• 


X 


.V*      /A 


BEAEING  AEMS 


VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY 


By    W.    P.    DERBY. 


BOSTON : 

WRIGHT    &   POTTER   PRINTING    COMPANY, 
18  POST  OFFICE  SQUARE. 

*   ;  -•  -  1883..  '. 


COPYRIGHT,  1883,  BY  W.  P.  DERBY. 


PREFACE. 


WHILE  our  chief  purpose  has  been  to  write  a  history  of 
the  TWENTY-SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  REGIMENT,  yet,  to 
give  the  work  more  general  interest,  we  have  thought  best 
to  include  an  account  of  co-operative  movements,  and  the 
varied  fortunes  of  the  places  which  it  was  the  lot  of  the 
regiment  to  capture  or  garrison.  We  gladly  acknowledge 
our  indebtedness  to  Congressman  GEORGE  D.  ROBINSON  for 
such  official  documents  as  were  needed,  as  well  as  for  a  full 
set  of  thirty-two  volumes  of  the  "United  States  Roll  of 
Honor,"  by  which  much  of  the  fullness  and  value  of  our  roster 
became  possible  ;  to  C.  M.  LEE  of  Springfield  for  a  scrap- 
book  of  newspaper  notices  of  the  regiment  during  the  war ; 
to  E.  T.  WITHERBY,  Esq.  (formerly  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts)  of  Selma,  Ala.,  for  information 
through  Southern  sources  ;  to  Capt.  E.  L.  PECK  for  personal 
memoranda  covering  the  entire  term  of  the  regiment ;  and 
no  less  to  Surgeon  D.  B.  N.  FISH  for  the  list  of  casualties, 
and  to  him,  with  Dr.  GEORGE  E.  FULLER  of  Monson,  for 
our  valuable  medical  record.  We  have  also  to  acknowledge 
the  favor  of  hosts  of  correspondents  and  friends. 

M188316 


VI  PREFACE. 

The  work  has  received,  in  advance  of  publication,  the 
criticism  of  many  prominent  officers  and  men  of  our  regi 
ment ;  and,  while  it  is  not  claimed  to  be  perfect,  it  is  hoped 
it  may  escape  exacting  criticism. 

As  the  History  is  issued  under  the  authority  of  the  regi 
ment,  by  their  unanimous  consent,  it  is  heartily  dedicated  to 
THE  HOMES  OF  WESTERN  MASSACHUSETTS  by 

THE  AUTHOR. 


ILLUSTRATIONS, 


Major  Gen'l  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,   . 
Major  Gen'l  John  G.  Foster, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen'l  Horace  C.  Lee, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen'l  Luke  Lyman, 
Colonel  Walter  G.  Bartholomew, 
Major  John  W.  Moore, 
Captain  Henry  A.  Hubbard, 
Captain  Ira  B.  Sampson, 


.    FRONTISPIECE. 

Opposite  page    29 

"      36 

"     202 

"  "     469 

"  "     483 

"  "      73 

"    239 


Major  Wm.  A.  Walker,    .  1 

Chap.  C.  L.  Woodworth,  .    ! 

Surgeon  Geo.  A.  Otis,      .    ^-opp.  page  497 

Surgeon  D.  B.  N.  Fish,     . 

Asst.  Surg.  Samuel  Camp,  J 


Capt.  M.  H.  Spaulding, 
Capt.  Edwin  C.  Clark, 
Capt.  Henry  C.  Dwight, 
Lieut.  W.  Chapin  Hunt, 
Lieut.  John  H.  Judd, 

Capt.  P.  8.  Bailey,     . 
Capt.  P.  W.  McManus, 
Capt.  T.  W.  Sloan,    . 
Capt.  J.  L.  Skinner,  . 
Capt.  Geo.  Warner,  . 


opp.  page  101 


opp.  page  26 


Capl.  Sherman  P.  Cooley, ""» 

Capt.  Edwin  L.  Peck,       .    i 

Capt.  C.  D.  Sandford,        .    ^>  opp.  page  264 

Lieut.  Pliny  Wood,  .        .    j 

Lieut.  James  H.  Fowler,  .  J 


Lieut.  H.  Smith  Newell,  . 
Adj.  Joseph  W.  Holmes,  . 
Cnpt.  Edward  K.  Wilcox, 
Lieut.  Edward  D.  Lee,  . 
Lieut.  Edgar  H.  Coombs, 


opp.  page  313 


Lieut.  Fred'k  C.  Wright,  ,  ~\ 

Capt.  Justus  Lyman,        .    I 

Hocp.  St'd  Geo.  E.  Fuller,    ^  opp.  page  510 

Warren  S.  Buxton,    .        .    j 

Chas.  R.  Fay,     .        .         .  J 


Geo.  P.  Clark,   .        .  .  ^ 

Sylvester  8.  Hooper,  .    I 

Wm.  B.  Watts,          .  .    ' 

Wm.  P.  Derby,  .    )>  opp.  page  157 

Alvin  A.  Gage,  .        .  .    I 

Newton  E.  Kellogg,  .  .    i 

Newton  E.  Wallace,  .  .  J 


Cyrus  A gans,  . 
W.  I.  Burghardt, 
Chas.  N.  Cook,  . 
Eldad  E.  Moore, 
John  Shoals, 
Leverette  Clarke, 


Simeon  E.  Preston, 
Franklin  Elwell, 
Wm   R.  Montague, 
John  E.  Cushman, 
Lineus  C.  Skinner, 
John  D,  Parsons, 


.  opp.  page  190 


opp.  page  301 


Vlll 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Geo.  Welcome,  . 
Dan'l  W.  Bates, 
Walter  R.  Madison,  . 
Hiram  G.  Everton,    . 
Lafayette  Babb, 
Chas.  W.  Roberts,     . 


'  opp.  page  342 


John  W.  Bartlett, 
Chas.  H.  Rust,    . 
Solon  M.  Allis,  . 
Chas.  Geckler,    . 
Rob  Roy  McGregor, 
Fred'k  Kurtz, 
Thomas  C.  Allis, 


1 
>opp.  page  141 

J 


Signal  Corps. 

Lieut.  Win.  Barrett, 

Henry  J.  Bardwell ^  opp.  page  516 

S.  Parkman  Janes, 

Drum  Corps 226 

Map  Dep't  of  North  Carolina, 99 

Map  Bermuda  Hundreds  and  vicinity, 252 

Chart  of  New  Berne  and  its  fortifications, 117 

Chart  of  Washington,  N.  C.,  and  its  fortifications, 168 

Chart  of  Battlefield  of  Drewry's  Bluff, 291 

Chart  of  Gum  Swamp  and  vicinity 460 


LIST 

OF 

BATTLES  AND  ENGAGEMENTS, 


Roanoke  Island,  N.  C., Feb.  7,  8,  '62. 

New  Berne,  N.  C March  14,  '62. 

Core  Creek,  N.  C. June  17, '62. 

Dover  X  Roads,  N.  C., .  July  28,  '62. 

Bachelor's  Creek,  N.  C., Nov.  12, '62. 

Kinston,  N.  C. Dec.  14, '62. 

Whitehall,  N.  C., Dec.  16,  '62. 

Ooldsboro,  N.  C Dec.  17,  '62. 

Rocky  Hoc  Creek,  N.  C March  23, '63. 

Siege  of  Washington,  N.  C., March  30  to  April  16, '63. 

Gum  Swamp,  N.  C., April  28,  '63. 

Gum  Swamp,  N.  C,      .        .        .        .  •  •  .       - May  22, '63. 

Walthall  Junction,  Va., May  6,  7,  '64. 

Arrowfield  Church,  Va., May  9,  '64. 

Drewry's  Bluff,  Va.,      .  May  13  to  16,  '64. 

Bakehouse  Creek,  Va., May  23,  '64. 

Cold  Harbor,  Va., June  2,  '64. 

Cold  Harbor,  Va June  3,  '64. 

Cold  Harbor,  Va .        .        .        .  June  1  to  12,  '64. 

Petersburg,  Va., June  15,  '64. 

Petersburg,  Va., June  18,  '64. 

Mii'e,  Petersburg,  Va July  30,  '64. 

Siege  of  Petersburg,  Va., June  15  to  Aug.  24,  '64. 

Gardner's  Bridge,  N.  C., Dec.  9,  '64. 

Foster's  Mills,  N.  C., Dec.  10,  '64. 

Butler's  Bridge,  N.  C., Dec.  12,  '64. 

South- West  Creek,  N.  C.,    .        .  March  fj,  '65. 


EXPEDITIONS. 


Trenton,  N.  C -     .        .        .        .  July  25  to  27, '62. 

Tarboro,  N.  C., Nov  1  to  Dec.  2, '62. 

Goldsboro,  N.  C., Dec.  11  to  20,  '62. 

Kenansville  and  Warsaw,  N.  C  ,          .         .        ..       .        .        .        •  July  4  to  8, '63. 

Rocky  Mount,  N.  C  , July  17  to  20,  '63. 

Magnolia  Salt  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.,  .......  March  4  to  7,  '64. 

Blackwater,  Va ^~:        .        .  April  12  to  15,  '64. 

Rainbow  Bluff,  N.  C., "~.        .        .  Dec.  4, '64,  to  Jan.  7, '65. 


xil  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   V. 

Life  in  Dixie.  Camp  Warner.  Bachelor's  Creek.  Hospital.  Rein 
forcements.  Battle  of  Camden,  N.  C.  Siege  of  Fort  Macon.  For 
tifications  of  New  Berne.  Beyond  the  lines.  Military  Governor. 
Grand  review.  Premature  rejoicings.  Departure  of  Gen'l  Burn- 
side.  Burnside's  plan.  Trenton  Expedition.  Capt.  Sandford  at 
Gum  Swamp.  Killed  by  lightning.  Washington,  N.  C.  attacked. 
Companies  A,  C,  and  I  ordered  to  Washington ;  B,  D,  E,  F  and  G 
to  Newport  Barracks.  H  and  K  at  Bachelor's  Creek.  Depart 
ment  of  North  Carolina.  Defences  of  Washington.  Defences  of 
Plymouth.  Naval  Combat  on  the  Blackwater.  Wingfield  and 
Sh'iloh 98-133 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Tarboro  Expedition.  Nine  months1  troops.  Rhalls'  Mills  skirmish. 
Advance  to  Rainbow  Bluff.  Detour  to  Tarboro.  Council  of  war 
and  return.  Attack  upon  H  and  K  at  Bachelor's  Creek.  Lieut. 
Wood's  strategy. 134-144 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Kinston,  Whitehall  and  Goldsboro.  Our  force  engaged.  Skirmishing 
by  the  way.  Battle  of  Kinston.  Battle  of  Whitehall.  Field  and 
battle  of  Goldsboro.  Clingman  assaults  Lee's  Brigade.  Casu 
alties.  R.ibel  force.  Incidents.  .  .  .  .  .  145-158. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

South  Carolina  Expedition.  Regiment  at  Washington,  N.  C.  Co 's  G 
and  H  go  to  Plymouth.  Mail  steamers  and  mails.  Hyde  County 
guerrillas.  Fort  Anderson  attacked.  Siege  of  Washington,  N.  C. 
Demand  for  its  surrender.  Commodore  Hull.  Ceres  runs  the 
blockade.  Aground  under  the  guns  of  Rodman's  Point.  Spinola 
retreats.  Nailing  the  flag  to  the  staff.  Cotton  Battery  and  Hill's 
Point.  Steamer  Escort  runs  the  blockade.  General  order.  Gan 
nett  declines  to  assault.  The  Siege  raised.  Incidents.  Engagement 
at  Rocky  Hoc  Creek.  .  .  .'  '.  .  .  .  160-188 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Gum  Swamp.  Engagement  at  Dover  X  Roads.  Gen'l  Palmer  loses  his 
temper.  Gum  Swamp  under  Col.  Jones.  A  Night  in  the  Swamp. 
A  grand  Success.  Following  Col.  Pierson  in  a  swamp.  Lieut. 
Hunt  and  his  men  at  Core  Creek  Bridge.  Attack  upon  Bachelor's 
Crock.  Col.  Jones  killed.  What  was  it  ?  189-201 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER   X. 

Col.  Lyman  resigns.  Life  in  New  Berne.  Attending  a  colored  Church. 
Foster  General  Hospital.  The  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Kenansville  and 
Warsaw  Expedition.  Rocky  Mount  Expedition.  Gen'l  Foster 
commands  the  Department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  Gen'l 
Peck  commands  in  North  Carolina.  Veteran  Reserve  Corps.  Capt. 
Geo.  Warner.  Guard  for  Conscripts.  Negro  wedding.  202-217 

CHAPTER   XI. 

Gen'l  Foster  calls  for  his  old  Brigade.  At  Newport  News.  Gen'l  Foster 
relieves  Gen'l  Burnside  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Provost  duty.  Re- 
enlistment.  Review  of  1863,  .  .  .  ;.'  .  ..  218-221 

CHAPTER  XII. 

/ 

Veterans  at  home.  Mayor  Alexander's  Address.  Col.  Bartholomew's 
reply.  Census  of  Norfolk  Contrabands.  Our  Drum  Corps.  Helping 
in  colored  schools.  Julian's  Creek.  Organization  of  the  Red  Star 
Brigade.  Death  of  Adj't  E.  D.  Lee.  .  .  .  ..  222-231 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Department  of  North  Carolina  in  danger.  Attack  upon  New  Berne.  A 
terrible  Revenge.  Plymouth  attacked.  The  ram  Albemarle.  Death 
of  Lieut.-Com.  Flusser.  Plymouth  surrendered.  Capt.  Sampson. 
Washington,  N.  C.,  evacuated.  A  fierce  Naval  Combat.  Hoko 
attacks  New  Berne  again.  His  hasty  Retreat.  .  .  232-241 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

The  Army  of  the  James.  General  C  A.  Heckman's  special  Report. 
Bermuda  Hundreds.  Battle  of  Walthall  Junction  ;  losses.  Walthall 
Junction,  May  7th;  losses.  Gen'l  Grant's  Instructions  to  Gen'l 
Butler.  Battle  of  Arrowfield  Church.  Mudsills  vs.  Chivalry  ;  losses. 
Retire  to  Cobb's  Hill.  Lieut.  Pliny  Wood.  Drewry's  Bluff.  Sharp- 
shooting.  New  position.  Company  D  on  picket.  Battle  of  Drew 
ry's  Bluff.  Beauregard's  Instructions;  how  executed.  The  Enemy 
repulsed.  Attacked  in  the  rear.  Loss  of  Colors  and  Prisoners.  What 
the  Enemy  say  of  the  Battle.  Casualties.  Capt.  C.  D.  Sandford. 
What  Gen'l  Butler  has  to  say.  Letters  from  Major-Gen'ls  Smith 
and  Weitzel.  Letters  from  Gen'ls  Heckman,  Pickett  and  Lee. 
Reorganization  of  the  Regiment.  New  Commanders.  Ordered  to 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  .  .  .  .  .  "..  245-293 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac.  White-House  Landing.  March  to  New  Cas 
tle  and  Cold  Harbor.  Promptly  at  work.  Battle  June  2 ;  losses. 
Charge  of  June  3.  Opinions  of  the  Charge.  Losses.  Major  W.  A. 
Walker.  Capt.  E.  K.  Wilcox.  Lieut.  Samuel  Morse.  Lieut.  F.  C. 
Wright.  Truce  to  bury  the  Dead.  Means  to  recognize  the  Dead 
Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions.  New  movement.  294-327 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Siege  of  Petersburg.  Battle  of  the  loth ;  losses.  Matter  in  dispute. 
Assault  June  18  ;  losses.  Incidents.  Gen'l  Smith's  Address.  Gen'l 
Stannard's  farewell.  Chaplain  Woodworth  resigns.  The  Enemy's 
works.  328-348 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A  Summer  before  Petersburg.  Experiences  at  the  front  and  at  the  rear. 
Casualities.  Tri-monthly  Report.  Aggregate  Strength  of  the  Regi 
ment  during  the  Summer.  Fleas,  sandflies, etc.  Extremes.  Picket 
line.  Gen'l  Smith's  farewell.  The  Mine  fiasco.  The  Rebels  mine 
our  position.  Interchange  on  the  picket  line.  .  .  349-366 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Return  of  the  Veterans.  The  Regiment  ordered  to  Noi'th  Carolina. 
Col.  Lee  interposes.  Tri-monthly  Report  Sept.  9.  The  Veterans  at 
Springfield.  Mayor  Alexander's  Address.  Ex-Mayor  Bemis'  Ad 
dress.  Col.  Lee's  response.  Col.  Bartholomew's  response.  367-377 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

Andersonville.  Lack  of  Shelter,  Fuel  and  Water.  A  wonderful  Provi 
dence.  Libby  Prison.  Arrival  at  Andersonville.  Surgeon's  call 
Burial  of  the  Dead.  A  Fast  of  nearly  four  Days.  Two  sides  of  such 
life.  Leaving  Andersonville.  Railroad  Accident.  Savannah.  Mil- 
len.  Blackshire.  Andersonville  again.  Abandoned  in  Florida. 
What  was  endured.  Personal  Incidents.  Forgiven  but  not  for 
gotten.  .  •  .  .  •  .  -  .  •  .  -.;;:>•-,  .  .  378-407 


CONTEXTS.  XV 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Officers  in  Prison.  Useless  requisitions.  Specimens  of  Chivalry.  Greet 
ings  at  Camp  Oglethorpe.  Under  fire  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  Sav 
annah,  Ga.  Line  officers  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  Camp  Sorghum,  Col 
umbia,  S.  C.  How  Escapes  were  made.  How  Money  and  News 
were  obtained.  A  stampede  of  officers.  Escape  of  Capt.  Nutting 
and  others.  Capt.  Nutting  gets  solicitous.  Not  anxious  for  ac 
quaintance.  New  Difficulties.  Under  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  Es 
cape  of  O'Connell  and  others.  Friendship  of  Negroes.  Drifting  out 
to  our  Fleet.  408-434 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Return  to  North  Carolina.  Torpedo  Explosion.  Military  Execution. 
Yellow  fever.  Volunteers  for  hazardous  duty.  Destruction  of  the 
Ram  Albemarle.  Recapture  of  Plymouth,  N.  C.  Successful  for 
aging.  Marching  orders.  .  .  .  .  .  .  435-445 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

Rainbow  Bluff.  Gardner's  Bridge.  Foster's  Mills.  Butler's  Bridge. 
Fun  all  on  one  side.  Col.  Frankle's  movements.  Tri-monthly  Re 
port.  Major  Moore  belligerent.  Ordered  to  Beaufort.  Ordered  to 
New  Berne.  Expeditions  against  Fort  Fisher.  Red  House  and 
Rocky  Run 446-458 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

South-West  Creek.  Marching  orders.  Col.  Bartholomew's  little  Speech. 
At  South-West  Creek.  Being  flanked.  Battle  of  South  West  Creek. 
Hardly  a  fighting  chance.  Rallying  around  our  Colors.  Defeated  ; 
casualties.  Col.  WT.  G.  Bartholomew.  Incidents.  Adjt.  J.  W. 
Holmes.  Story  of  the  prisoners.  A  speedy  release.  .  459-477 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Close  of  Service.  The  Soldier's  life.  The  Last  Ditch  found.  Disband 
ing  of  the  Army.  Muster-out  of  the  Regiment.  The  fearful  Cost 
Personal  Notices  of  Officers  and  Men.  .  .  .  478-495 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

Medical.  Surgeon  Otis.  Surgeon  Otis'  Letters.  Hospital  Department. 
On  the  way  to  Annapolis.  New  Berne  Battlefield.  Asst.-Surg.'s 
Camp  and  Hubon.  Hospital  funds.  Effect  of  large  Bounties.  Dr. 
G.  E  Fuller.  At  Cold  Harbor,  Va.  Around  Petersburg.  Return 
to  North  Carolina.  Yellow  fever.  Hamilton  Expedition.  South- 
West  Creek.  Final  service.  Signal  Corps.  Our  Men  in  that  Corps. 
Its  Advantage  to  the  Army 496-519 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  Regimental  Association.  Its  object. 
Discovery  of  the  captured  Colors.  How  recovered.  A  Jubilee  of  the 
Regiment  at  Springfield.  How  the  Flags  were  received.  Press  re 
ports.  Flags  deposited  at  the  Springfield  City  Library.  Letters  of 
regret ;  longing  to  be  with  us.  Fraternal  Greetings.  .  520-531 


ROLL  OF  HONOR, .        .        533 

ROSTER, 551 


INTRODUCTORY. 


OXE  of  our  most  eminent  statesmen  has  said,  "All  gov 
ernments  must  pass  through  three  ordeals  before  having  a 
confessed  standing  in  the  family  of  nations  ;  first,  the  knowl 
edge  of  and  declaration  of  independent  rights ;  second, 
defending  rights  and  territory  from  foreign  aggression  ;  and 
lastly,  maintaining  itself  against  insurrection  and  treason 
within  its  domain."  Two  of  these  ordeals  had  been  suc 
cessfully  passed  by  the  United  States,  but  in  the  last  the 
nations  of  the  world  predicted  its  ruin.  "We  had  no 
cohesiveness  or  power  to  enforce  our  laws,  and  at  the 
first  shock  would  fly  to  pieces  like  a  torpedo  from  forces 
within.  At  best,  a  republic  based  on  universal  suffrage 
and  intelligence  but  nourished  the  causes  that  Avould  prove 
its  ruin."  These  predictions  showed  the  bias  of  the  nations, 
and  their  acts  became  so  unfriendly  at  the  outset  of  our 
contest,  as  to  justify  our  noble  President  Lincoln  in  saying, 
in  his  annual  message  in  1862,  "  Every  nation  distracted  by 
civil  war  must  expect  to  be  treated  without  consideration  by 
foreign  powers."  Count  De  Gasparin,  a  writer  of  acknowl 
edged  ability,  said,  "  Suppose  Europe  not  to  exist,  and 
America  a  duelling-ground  in  which  no  one  can  interfere, 
you  cannot  imagine  a  continuance  of  the  struggle.  Four 
months  would  suffice  for  the  reduction  of  the  South  from  the 
day  it  ceases  to  count  on  Europe." 


2  INTRODUCTORY. 

It  is  proper  to  recount  a  few  of  the  leading  causes  of  the 
war  as  an  introduction  to  the  services  and  sacrifices  of 
those  who  battled  for  the  integrity  of  our  Union.  Headley 
in  his  History  of  the  civil  war  says,  "  It  is  easy  to  see  that 
it  will  be  vain  for  either  North  or  South  to  attempt  to  prove 
itself  entirely  guiltless  before  impartial  history  ;  "  a  declara 
tion  which  means  that,  although  the  North  was  right  in  its 
determined  opposition  to  slavery,  the  South  was  in  a  meas 
ure  justified  in  recourse  to  arms,  from  the  methods  by  which 
their  pet  institution  was  antagonized.  Such  a  statement 
may  be  soothing  to  a  neutral  mind,  but  lacks  the  vigor  and 
honesty  of  the  truism  that  right  is  always  aggressive  against 
evil,  and  must  be  in  loyalty  to  itself. 

The  loyal  North  had  endured  banterings  and  insults  until 
forbearance  ceased  to  be  a  virtue.  For  the  sake  of  peace, 
they  had  submitted  to  a  long  series  of  dominations,  result 
ing  in  the  admission  of  Texas  as  a  slave  State,  and  render 
ing  effete  the  Wilmot  Proviso,  by  the  terms  of  which  slavery 
could  not  be  introduced  into  acquired  territory.  After  a 
bitter  struggle,  slavery  was  legalized  in  Missouri  under  the 
Missouri  Compromise,  providing  that  henceforth  slavery 
should  be  prohibited  north  of  the  thirty-sixth  degree  of 
latitude.  To  repeal  this  compromise,  Squatter  Sovereignty 
had  been  the  rallying  cry,  and  this  declared  it  the  right  of 
those  settling  in  a  territory  to  decide  its  domestic  institu 
tions.  To  vitiate  State  sovereignty,  as  in  Kansas,  they 
appealed  to  border  ruffianism,  and  invoked  the  military 
power  of  the  government  to  crush  out  and  destroy  the 
opposing  sentiment.  Still  dissatisfied,  they  obtained  the 
famous  Dred  Scott  decision  from  the  Supreme  Court,  which 


INTRODUCTORY.  3 

declared,  "There  is  no  difference  between  slaves  and  other 
kinds  of  property,'*  and  that  "  All  American  citizens  may 
settle  everywhere  (in  our  domain)  with  their  property." 
With  the  patronage  of  the  government  at  their  command,  its 
marshals  were  employed  in  recovering  fugitive  slaves,  and 
both  houses  of  Congress  passed  stringent  laws,  ordering  all 
the  forces  of  the  States,  both  public  and  private,  to  assist 
in  capturing  and  returning  the  fugitives  to  bondage.  Es 
pionage  was  placed  upon  the  mails,  and  all  literature 
assailing  slavery  prohibited  therefrom.  Social  ostracism 
against  persons  from  the  free  States  at  the  South,  was 
exacting  and  intolerable,  individual  opinion  overawed,  and 
any  expression  of  opposing  sentiment  was  followed  by  a 
notice  to  leave,  or  by  personal  violence.  Prominent  men  in 
all  departments  of  government  were  playing  fast  and  loose 
with  treason,  and  distrust  was  justified  on  every  hand. 

Although  a  Massachusetts  senator  had  been  stricken 
down  at  the  National  Capitol,  and  these  changes  been  en 
dured,  there  was  no  intention  to  interfere  with  the  institution 
of  slavery,  otherwise  than  by  legislation,  though  secession 
and  nullification  had  been  openly  advocated  at  the  South. 

The  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  furnished  an  occasion 
rather  than  a  cause  for  the  South ;  and  the  weakness  or 
duplicity  of  James  Buchanan,  the  opportunity  to  unveil 
their  treasonable  plans.  South  Carolina  passed  an  ordi 
nance  of  secession  Dec.  20,  1860,  and  seized  all  public 
property  within  her  State,  under  the  plea  of  eminent 
domain.  This  was  repeated  in  all  the  cotton  States,  until, 
upon  the  inauguration  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President, 
March  4,  1861,  seven  States  had  passed  ordinances  of  se- 


4  INTRODUCTORY. 

cession.  Each  in  turn  seized  the  public  property,  Florida 
and  Louisiana  ignoring  their  purchase  by  the  government 
at  a  cost  of  about  sixty  millions  of  dollars,  and  Texas  the 
fact  that  her  place  in  our  constellation  had  been  secured  by 
upwards  of  two  hundred  millions  of  dollars,  and  large  num 
bers  of  valuable  lives. 

Friday,  April  12,  1861,  at  half-past  four  in  the  morning, 
a  shell  from  a  mortar  battery  near  Fort  Johnson,  Charleston, 
S.C.,  described  a  curve  high  in  air,  and  fell  within  Fort 
Sumter,  then  occupied  by  Major  Robert  Anderson,  with  a 
garrison  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  men.  After  a 
bombardment  of  thirty-six  hours,  by  forces  under  General 
Beauregard,  the  fort  was  surrendered  and  evacuated  April 
14th.  Thus  was  treason  consummated,  and  a  conflict  in 
augurated,  which,  in  gigantic  proportions,  and  far-reaching 
results,  must  ever  stand  as  one  of  the  boldest  monuments  in 
political  history. 

These  acts  narrated,  resulted  in  a  proclamation  for  con 
vening  Congress  July  4,  1861,  and  a  call  for  seventy-five 
thousand  troops  for  three  months.  Virginia,  North  Caro 
lina,  Tennessee,  and  Arkansas,  now  cast  their  lot  with  the 
.South,  while  Maryland,  Kentucky,  and  Missouri  refused 
their  quota,  and  notified  the  government,  —  "  Troops  could 
not  pass  over  their  domain  to  coerce  the  sovereign  States." 

By  this  accession,  the  seceded  States  embraced  a  popula 
tion  of  five  and  a  half  million  whites  and  three  and  one-half 
million  blacks,  with  a  territory  of  five  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  thousand  square  miles.  Cotton  had  been  king,  yielding 
to  these  States  upward  of  two  hundred  millions  annually,  in 
addition  to  immense  revenues  from  other  crops,  and  from 


INTRODUCTORY.  5 

mines  and  forests  of  ship-timber.  The  conflict  must  be 
waged,  if  at  all,  along  an  inland  line  of  upwards  of  twelve 
hundred  miles  well  suited  for  defence,  and  twenty-four  hun 
dred  miles  of  seaboard,  containing  the  best  harbors  and 
strongest  fortresses  of  the  Union. 

From  the  Potomac  to  the  far  West,  all  was  chaos  and 
lurking  treason  when  Congress  met.  An  insurgent  army 
was  gathered  at  Manassas,  Va.,  threatening  the  national 
capital.  Kentucky  had  decided  to  remain  in  the  Union,  but 
Buckner  and  Breckenridge,  and  other  leading  men  were 
secretly  plotting  to  lead  it  into  the  rebellion  ;  Missouri  was 
rent  in  twain  by  treason  and  contesting  forces,  and  its  gov 
ernor  and  the  rebel  General  Price,  were  actively  at  work 
to  force  it  into  the  Confederacy.  Privateers  sailing  under 
letters  of  marque  were  destroying  our  merchant  marine 
upon  the  high  seas,  while  the  nations  of  the  Old  World 
pointed  with  scorn  at  one  more  failure  of  a  republican  gov 
ernment. 

Even  while  Congress  was  debating  the  right  or  advisa 
bility  of  coercion,  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  fought;  and 
the  retreating,  demoralized  Union  army  —  of  twenty-eight 
thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight  men,  —  as  it  fell  back 
upon  the  national  capital,  awoke  the  two  houses  from  sen 
timentality  to  a  conception  of  duty.  The  needed  appropria 
tions  were  quickly  made,  and  the  call  for  five  hundred 
thousand  volunteers  was  authorized. 

Before  a  step  could  be  taken  to  retrieve  our  national 
honor,  this  army  must  be  enlisted,  equipped,  and  drilled. 
A  great  danger  also  threatened  the1  nation  in  the  expiration 
of  the  term  of  the  three  months  troops ;  but,  thanks  to  their 


6  INTRODUCTORY. 

unwavering  loyalty,  these  troops  volunteered  to  remain 
until  such  time  as  new  levies  could  replace  them.  Fortu 
nately,  the  call  for  volunteers  was  met  by  an  uprising  and 
response  without  parallel,  exceeding  by  two  hundred  and 
fourteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty  the  number  called 
for,  a  sight  which  startled  the  nations  of  the  world,  and 
awoke  in  our  enemies  a  new  conception  of  the  conflict  they 
had  precipitated. 

Suspecting  that  the  national  government  would  be  forced 
to  resort  to  arms — with  eminent  wisdom  —  Gov.  John  A. 
Andrew,  of  Massachusetts,  had  issued  his  General  Order 
No.  4,  Jan.  16,  1861,  requiring  the  commanding  officer  of 
each  militia  organization,  to  perfect,  recruit,  and  equip  his 
command  with  men  ready  for  service  at  a  moment's  notice  ; 
and  to  discharge  such  as  were  unfit  and  unwilling  to  enter 
active  service. 

By  virtue  of  this  forethought,  Massachusetts  was  able  to 
respond  so  promptly  to  the  call  for  troops,  that  the  unfading 
honor  of  the  first  response  to  the  nation's  call,  belongs  to 
her,  and  to  the  valiant  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment.  The 
morning  following  the  call,  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment  mustered  on  Boston  Common,  and  the  evening  of  the 
17th  was  en  route  for  Washington. 

The  President's  first  call  was  met  with  such  an  uprising 
that  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  volunteers  could  be  ac 
cepted  ;  but  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  with  a  more  vivid 
conception  of  the  conflict  before  it,  the  government  once 
more  appealed  to  the  States  for  help,  and  Governor  Andrew 
issued  his  proclamation,  "Your  country  calls  you  to  the 
post,  where  the  heroic  soldiers  of  April  hastened  with  gen 
erous  alacrity  and  sublime  devotion." 


CHAPTER    I. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

AUGUST  28,  1861,  Horace  C.  Lee,  City  Clerk  of  Spring 
field,  a  gentleman  of  large  experience  in  the  Massachusetts 
State  Militia,  received  a  telegram  from  Governor  Andrew, 
offering  him  the  lieutenant-colonelcy  of  the  Twenty-First 
Massachusetts  Regiment,  then  in  camp  at  Worcester.  He 
telegraphed  his  acceptance,  and  the  next  morning  went  to 
Boston  for  instructions,  when  he  was  informed  that  five 
additional  regiments  were  to  l>e  raised,  and  that  the  gov 
ernor  had  decided  to  authorize  him  to  organize  one  of  these 
in  the  western  part  of  the  State. 

September  3d,  he  received  written  authority  from  Gov 
ernor  Andrew  to  organize  a  regiment,  to  be  recruited  in  the 
four  western  counties.  It  was  then  supposed  that  the  regi 
ment  would  be  called  the  Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment,  and  all  its  earlier  orders  were  so  given. 

Colonel  Lee  at  once  communicated  with  fifteen  o-entlemen 

c 

of  former  prominence  in  the  militia,  oifering  commands  and 
positions  as  he  considered  them  competent,  in  return  for 
enlistments. 

September  10th,  recruiting  offices  were  opened  at  North 
ampton,  Amherst,  Greenfield,  Athol,  Ludlow,  Chicopee, 
Springfield,  Westfield,  North  Adams  and  Pittsfield.  So 
intense  was  the  enthusiasm  that  on  the  l£th  instant  North 
ampton  and  Westfield  reported  full  ranks  ;  Ludlow,  seventy- 
five  men  enlisted ;  and  other  places  that  they  were  meeting 
unexpected  success. 

September  17th,  the  companies  at  Amherst,  Adams,  Chico- 


8  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

pee  and  Ludlow,  were  ordered  into  camp  on  "  Gunn's  Lot," 
situated  upon  the  Wilbraham  Road,  about  a  mile  east  of  the 
United  States  Armory,  at  Springfield,  Mass.  The  camp 
was  well  situated  upon  high  and  level  ground,  far  enough 
from  the  city  to  facilitate  discipline,  and  yet  easy  of  access 
for  visitors  and  supplies.  Luke  Lyman,  Esq.,  of  North 
ampton,  Register  of  Probate  for  Hampshire  County,  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment ;  and,  as  Colo 
nel  Lee's  time  was  largely  occupied  in  closing  his  business 
and  facilitating  recruiting,  the  command  of  the  camp  de 
volved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lyman  until  about  the 
middle  of  October. 

Dr.  George  A.  Otis,  of  Springfield,  was  appointed  sur 
geon,  commenting  on  which,  the"  Springfield  Republican" 
congratulated  the  regiment  on  ' '  having  secured  one  of  the 
foremost,  best  educated,  and  most  successful  physicians  in 
the  county,  and  every  way  fitted  for  the  post."  Walter 
G.  Bartholomew,  of  Thompson's  Express,  formerly  of  the 
United  States  Sappers  and  Miners,  was  made  commander  of 
the  North  Adams  company,  and  ordered  to  bring  the  same 
to  camp. 

In  consequence  of  the  drain  upon  the  Quartermaster's 
Department  at  Boston,  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  camp 
equipage,  so  that  for  the  lack  of  these  when  the  Pittsfield  and 
Amherst  companies  arrived  at  Springfield,  the  19th  inst.,the 
City  Guard  offered  them  the  use  of  their  armory  for  the 
night.  The  morning  of  the  20th,  a  portion  of  the  tents  ar 
rived,  and  our  rendezvous  was  named  Camp  Reed,  in  honor 
of  Gen'lJolm  II.  Reed,  Quartermaster-General  of  Massachu 
setts.  During  the  day,  the  Amherst,  Westfield,  and  Pitts- 
field  companies  repaired  to  the  ground  and  pitched  their  A 
tents,  which  furnished  accommodations  for  six  men  each. 
Official  ^notice  was  also  received  of  the  appointment  of 
William  II.  Tyler,  a  former  merchant  of  South  Adams,  as 
Quartermaster  of  the  regiment.  This  for  the  time  created 


FIRST    NIGHT    IN    CAMP.  9 

quite  a  ripple,  as  Colonel  Lee  in  consideration  of  assurances 
from  the  governor  had  promised  the  same  to  J.  B.  Stebbins, 
Esq.,  a  worthy  citizen  of  Springfield,  who  had  already  begun 
to  act  in  that  capacity.  The  responsibility  assumed  by  Colo 
nel  Lee  in  the  matter  of  appointments  wras  a  delicate  one, 
subjecting  him  to  great  pressure  from  all  sides,  in  behalf  of 
particular  friends  ;  and  it  is  creditable  to  his  judgment  and 
the  forbearance  of  his  officers  that  he  succeeded  with  so  lit 
tle  friction.  There  was  rivalry  in  the  appointment  of  a 
chaplain  between  the  friends  of  Rev..  Miles  Sandford,  a 
Baptist  minister  of  Adams  and  those  of  Rev.  C.  L.  Wood- 
wrorth,  a  Congregationalist  of  South  Arnherst.  The  former 
received  the  appointment,  but  the  latter  succeeded  him  a 
few  months  later. 

September  21st  the  Northampton  and  Ludlow  companies 
reported  at  camp,  but  the  small  supply  of  tents  forced  us  to 
crowd  twelve  men  into  quarters  intended  for  six.  They  lay 
at  antipodes  that  night  upon  their  pallets  of  straw.  No  won 
der  there  were  frequent  complaints  of  crowding,  kicking,  and 
of  feet  being  in  some  one's  face.  These  trials  were,  how 
ever,  soon  submitted  to,  and  the  hilarity  of  camp  gave  place 
to  quiet  and  sleep.  Soon  some  straitened,  aching  limb, 
unconsciously  raised  for  relief,  str  ikes  our  supply  of  tin-ware 
hanging  upon  the  tent-pole,  and  sends  it  like  a  score  of 
cymbals  over  the  sleepers.  To  add  variety,  a  heavy  rain 
fell  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  flooding  the  camp  and 
leaving  our  embryo  soldiers  lying  in  puddles  of  water. 

The  Commissary  Department  was  equally  deficient  in 
supplies,  and  some  companies  were  provided  with  rations  at 
the  Eagle  Hotel,  now  known  as  the  "Rockingham  House." 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  response  to  the  call  for 
troops  had  been  without  parallel.  The  enthusiasm  which 
fired  the  heart  of  New  England  had  been  encouraged  by 
liberal  pecuniary  aid  from  patriotic  and  influential  citizens. 
Hon.  H.  G.  Knight  of  Easthampton  paid  one  hundred  dol- 


10  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

lars  to  each  married,  and  fifty  dollars  to  each  single  man 
enlisting  in  our  regiment  from  that  town.  Judge  James  D. 
Colt,  Col.  C.  M.  Whelden  of  Pittsfield  and  Sylvander  John 
son,  Esq.,  of  North  Adams  were  also  specially  prominent, 
while  many  others  in  a  quiet  but  still  efficient  way,  worked 
in  their  own  localities. 

We  prospered,  because  the  people  had  a  mind  to  work, 
and  hence  it  was  not  strange  the  regiment  was  ready  for 
camp  before  its  supplies  and  equipage  could  be  obtained. 

Sunday,  the  22d,  was  novel  in  experience,  strict  enforce 
ment  of  camp  discipline  not  being  required.  The  men  were 
allowed  to  attend  the  various  churches  of  the  city,  or  roam 
the  fields  at  pleasure.  There  was  not  enough  of  mutual 
acquaintance  to  suggest  frivolity,  but  all  were  models  of 
soberness  and  decorum.  In  the  afternoon,  Captain  Fuller 
took  the  Pittsfield  company  —  Whelden  Guards  —  to  the 
Eagle  House,  and  furnished  them  one  of  its  best  dinners  at 
his  own  expense. 

Parts  of  the  Springfield,  Chicopee,  Greenfield  and  North 
Adams  companies  arrived  the  23d  hist.,  and  Amos  Bond, 
of  Springfield,  was  authorized  to  organize  a  band  for  the 
regiment.  A  full  supply  of  tents  was  secured  during  the 
day,  allowing  one  to  each  six  men. 

Orders  were  issued  the  24th  requiring  flannel  to  be  used 
as  underwear,  and  a  supply  issued ;  but  the  uniforms,  to  be 
made  by  Merritt  Clark  &  Co.,  of  Northampton,  were  as 
yet  undelivered.  During  the  day  six  men  of  the  Ludlow 
company  were  drummed  from  camp  for  insubordination  be 
cause  of  dissatisfaction  with  rations.  The  Athol  company 
arrived  during  the  afternoon  headed  by  the  Athol  Band,  so 
that  the  ten  companies  were  present,  though  as  yet  without 
full  ranks. 

The  encampment  had  now?  its  full  proportions. 

The  parade  ground  was  a  scene  of  restless  activity ;  the 
various  detachments  engaged  in  company  movements,  or 


CHARACTER    AND    MUSTER    OF    THE    REGIMENT.  11 

the  manual  of  arms.  A  large  tent  in  the  rear  of  the  camp 
answered  for  hospital  purposes,  and  for  the  examining  of 
recruits.  On  repairing  to  this  place  the  men  were  ordered 
to  strip  and,  one  by  one,  were  put  around  the  tent  at  double 
quick.  Defects,  constitutional,  accidental,  or  arising  from 
habits,  were  carefully  sought  out,  and  the  utmost  soundness 
of  lung  and  limb  demanded.  Dame  Nature  must  have 
plumed  herself  over  the  perfection  of  her  creation,  for  but 
few  were  found  unsound.  Suchw7ere  the  men  New  England 
was  furnishing  as  a  pledge  of  her  loyalty.  Like  the  sacrifice 
of  the  ancient  Jews,  their  offering  was  without  spot  or  blem 
ish,  and  it  was  no  poesy  that  they  were  "  the  flower  of  New 
England." 

Our  regiment  was  made  up  of  Massachusetts  yeomen  — 
the  best  element  of  the  people.  It  stood  for  the  best  of 
which  America  can  boast  —  men  of  independence,  character, 
and  honest  toil.  Most  of  them  were  what  might  reason 
ably  be  expected  from  New  England's  free-school  system, 
—  men  of  intelligence,  "  who  knew  their  rights  and  know 
ing  dare  maintain."  The  rank  and  file  were  the  equal  of 
those  in  command,  and  yet,  for  the  public  good,  were  will 
ing  to  surrender  individuality,  and  work  through  others  the 
nation's  redemption.  The  "  Republican  "  in  speaking  of 
them  said  :  "They  are  the  hardy  yeomen  of  western  Massa 
chusetts,  and  when  fully  organized,  are  likely  to  equal,  if 
not  surpass,  the  popular  Tenth  Regiment." 

September  27th,  the  morning  reports  gave  the  following 
men  in  cam]) :  Westfield,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  ;  North 
ampton,  one  hundred  and  ten;  Amherst  and  Athol,  one 
hundred  each;  Ludlow,  ninety;  Pittsfield,  eighty ;  North 
Adams,  fifty-eight;  Springfield,  forty-nine;  Chicopee,  for 
ty  ;  Greenfield,  thirty ;  and  these,  having  passed  the  sur 
geon,  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  by 
Major  Semple,  U.S.A.,  for  three  years  unless  sooner  dis- 


12  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

charged.     The  same  clay  the  following  list  of    field  officers 
for  the  regiment  was  promulgated  :  — 

Colonel,  Horace  C.  Lee,  of  Springfield. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Luke  Lyman,  Northampton. 
Major,  William  M.  Brown,  North  Adams. 
Surgeon,  George  A.  Otis,  Springfield. 
Assistant  Surgeon,  Samuel  Camp,  Great  Barringtou. 
Quartermaster,  William  H.  Tyler,  Adams. 
Adjutant,  George  W.  Bartlett,  Greenfield. 
Chaplain,  H.  Winslow, . 

Of  the  last  person,  the  author  can  say  nothing,  the  including 
of  his  name  being  doubtless  a  clerical  error,  as  on  Sunday,  the 
29th,  Rev.  C.  L.  Woodworth,  of  Amherst,  conducted  "  divine 
service,"  as  a  candidate  for  the  office.  A  choir  improvised 
by  J.  L.  Skinner,  of  the  Amherst  company,  aided  the  exer 
cises.  Thus  early  the  standard  of  the  cross  was  elevated, 
and  a  remnant  was  faithful  to  it  through  all  the  vicissitudes 
of  service.  The  men  marching  out,  formed  a  hollow  square, 
and,  seated  upon  the  ground,  by  worship  dedicated  the 
dome  of  the  sky  as  their  religious  temple. 

The  work  of  organization,  equipment,  and  drill  was 
pressed  without  intermission  to  prepare  us  for  the  field  at 
the  earliest  moment.  The  Quartermaster  and  Commissary 
departments  were  now  fully  supplied,  and  the  hearts  of  the 
people  opened  to  furnish  everything  love  and  loyalty  could 
suggest.  Hardly  a  day  passed  but  mementoes  from  loved 
ones  came  to  gladden  our  hearts,  in  many  cases  the  result 
of  a  sacrifice  at  home  more  patriotic  than  that  which  led  us 
to  the  field. 

The  children's  work  opened  on  the  afternoon  of  the  12th 
of  October,  when  the  Northampton!  company  marched  into 
a  hollow  square  formed  by  the  other  companies  and  were 
presented  in  behalf  of  the  Sabbath  schools  of  that  town  with 
testaments,  towels,  combs,  and  cushions.  Appropriate  re- 


MEMENTOES    FROM    FRIENDS.  13 

marks  were  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Capen,  and  patriotic  songs 
sung  by  a  chorus  accompanying  the  delegation.  On  the 
16th  the  Ludlow  company  was  alike  favored,  and  upon  the 
29th  the  following  note,  with  the  supplies  alluded  to  in  it, 
was  received  :  — 


Oct.  29,  1861. 
Col.  H.  C.  LEE  : 

The  scholars  of  State  Street  Grammar  School  cheerfully  con 
tribute  the  following  articles  to  your  hospital  stores  :  Four  blank 
ets,  three  pairs  slippers,  twenty-one  sheets,  two  boxes  of  ban 
dages,  eighteen  pairs  pillow-cases,  one  box  lint,  fifty  towels,  one 
roll  linen,  sixteen  pairs  wool  socks,  two  boxes  soap,  ten  handker 
chiefs,  one  night  shirt,  and  a  collection  of  books  ;  and  we  sincerely 
hope  they  may  be  the  means  of  atfording  much  comfort  to  the 
brave  men  of  your  regiment.  Yours  respectfully, 

(Signed)  J.  A.  MILLER, 

S.  Gr.  FELTON, 

Teachers. 

This  was  followed  by  gifts  from  the  Union  Street  Gram 
mar  and  High  School  of  the  city. 

It  is  much  easier  to  say  that  the  ladies  left  nothing  un 
done  which  love  could  suggest  or  ingenuity  devise,  than  to 
enumerate  their  favors.  On  the  15th  the  North  Adams 
and  Pittsfield  companies  received  towels,  combs,  and  cush 
ions,  from  Mrs.  J.  M.  Thompson,  of  Springfield,  while  the 
former,  and  the  Chicopee  companies  were  remembered  by  a 
Mrs.  -  Carney,  by  the  same  gifts,  not  to  omit  a  liberal  sup 
ply  of  "doughnuts,  "sufficient  for  the  Adams  company.  Those 
doughnuts  touched  the  jealousies  of  the  whole  regiment,  and 
longing  eyes  watched  their  disappearance,  wondering  at 
such  partiality.  If  the  donor  had  only  enlarged  her  bounty 
to  include  us  all,  she  would  have  been  unanimously  declared 
the  mother  of  the  regiment.  The  hospital  was  in  daily  re 
ceipt  of  supplies  from  the  ladies,  and  upon  the  23d  the 
following  was  received  :  — 


14  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

NORTHAMPTON,  Oct.  23,  1861. 
Dr.  OTIS  : 

Enclosed  you  will  find  one  hundred  dollars,  contributed 
by  the  good  people  of  Northampton,  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick 
of  }~our  regiment.  Mr.  Lyman  assures  me  that  if  placed  in 
your  hands  it  will  be  judiciously  used.  It  has  afforded  us  great 
pleasure  to  contribute  in  our  wa}-  to  the  comforts  of  your  brave 
men.  If  they  are  willing  to  leave  home  to  protect  ours,  the  all  we 
can  do  is  but  a  poor  return,  yet  it  may  say  to  them,  we  in  a  meas 
ure  appreciate  the  sacrifice,  and  that  our  prayers  and  best  wishes 
attend  them.  (Signed)  MARIA  T.  DAMON. 

Friends  were  equally  appreciative  of  our  officers,  and 
each  clay  some  new  victim  found  himself  called  upon  to  re 
spond  to  unexpected  testimonials  of  good-will. 

Captain  Bartholomew  again  led  off,  and  most  suspiciously  ; 
' '  an  out-of-town  lady  "  presenting  him  with  a  handsome 
uniform,  of  which  the  "  Republican"  suggested  "  it  was  not 
surprising,"  leaving  the  rest  untold.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lyman  received  a  sword,  sash,  and  belt  from  the  Lyman 
Guard  of  Northampton  ;  Captain  Bartholomew  and  Lieuten 
ant  Bailey  received  like  gifts  from  the  Union  Guard  of 
Springfield  ;  as  also  Lieutenant  Hunt  from  John  West,  Esq.  ; 
Lieutenant  Warner  from  Sheriff  Bush,  and  Captain  Cooley 
from  the  Masonic  fraternity  ;  Surgeon  Otis  received  a  horse 
and  equipments  from  friends  ;  and,  upon  the  2 1st  inst.,  Colo 
nel  Lee  received  the  same  gift  from  his  city  friends.  Octo 
ber  18th,  the  regiment  formed  in  a  square  upon  the  parade 
grounds,  and  were  presented  by  Major  Andrews,  Assistant 
Commissary  General  of  Massachusetts,  with  a  stand  of  State 
and  United  States  colors.  As  he  presented  them  to  us 
Major  Andrews  said  :  "  Though  they  be  stained  with  human 
gore,  riddled  by  weapons  of  destruction,  hurled  by  an  in 
furiated  foe,  or  faded  by  the  lapse  of  time,  bring  them  back 
unblemished,  —  bring  them  back  a  crown  of  glory  for  your 
brow."  The  colors  were  received  at  "  present  arms,"  Colo- 


DIFFICULTY    IN    ENLISTING.  15 

nel  Lee  plighting  our  lives,  if  need  be,  to  save  them   from 
dishonor. 

It  had  been  expected  that  this  regiment  would  form  a  part 
of  the  Sherman  expedition,  at  that  time  rendezvousing  at 
"  Hampstead  C.-imp,"  L.  I.,  and  as  early  as  October  7th,  or 
ders  were  received  to  be  ready  to  leave  for  that  point  the 
14th  inst.  Colonel  Lee  responded  that  this  was  utterly 
impossible,  as  the  regiment  was  without  arms  or  uniforms, 
and  imperfectly  recruited  and  organized.  The  attempt  to 
enlist  so  many  regiments  at  once,  had  filled  our  towns  with 
recruiting  offices,  both  for  our  own  and  other  States.  Of 
this,  complaint  was  made,  and  the  following  reply  elic 
ited  :  — 

BOSTON,  Oct.  11,  1861. 
Col.  H.  C.  LEE  : 

I  understand  that  persons  are  recruiting  in  the  four  western 
counties  under  the  supposed  authority  of  Major-General  But 
ler,  thus  delaying  the  recruiting  of  your  regiment.  This  is 
wholly  wrong,  and  in  defiance  of  the  order  of  this  depart 
ment,  and  of  the  authority  to  me  imparted  by  the  Secretary  of 
War.  No  person  can  be  commissioned  in  the  volunteer  service, 
otherwise  than  by  the  governor  of  the  State,  nor  can  regiments  be 
recruited  over  his  authority,  unless  he  refuses  to  commission  offi 
cers  and  raise  troops  when  demanded  by  the  United  States  gov 
ernment.  I  have  authorized  as  man}'  regiments  as  can  be  safely 
attempted  at  one  time  in  the  State,  and  as  many  as  the  Secretary 
of  War  has  requested.  The  four  western  counties  were  designated 
as  3Tour  recruiting  ground,  and  I  will  not  at  present  change  the 
order  in  that  respect. 

(Signed)         JOHN  A.  ANDREW,  Governor. 

Through  the  influence  of  Ansel  Wright,  Esq.,  at  North 
ampton,  thirty  men  were  at  once  secured  from  that  town  for 
the  Chicopee  company.  Colonel  Lee  left  the  command  of 
the  camp  under  the  efficient  care  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Lyman,  and  gave  personal  attention  to  the  various  recruit 
ing  offices,  so  that  by  October  20th  the  ranks  were  prac- 


16 


TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


tically  full.  Enfield  rifles  and  uniforms  were  issued  Octo 
ber  10th.  The  latter  consisted  of  a  navy-blue  coat  and 
"  blouse,"  light-blue  pants  and  overcoat,  with  a  black  felt 
hat.  The  companies  were  assigned  position  in  line  and 
rank  as  below  ;  the  numerals  signifying  their  order  in  rank, 
counting  in  order  from  right  to  left  as  on  dress  parade  ;  the 
letters  the  future  designation  of  the  companies. 


c 

.- 

s 

j 

x 

«J 

c 

<u 

3 

a 

•-  "St 

c 

T 

•£•3 

s 

, 

a  - 

Town  from. 

*c 

g 

Town  from. 

o 

5 

c. 

5.  o 

a 

"S 

ic 

e- 

o 

O 

c 

O 

o 

1 

Adams, 

1 

H. 

6 

Ludlow, 

8 

I. 

2 

Greenfield,   . 

6 

C. 

7 

Amherst, 

5 

D. 

3 

Springfield,  . 

4 

K. 

8 

Westfield,     . 

10 

F. 

4 

Chicopee, 

9 

G. 

9 

Athol,   . 

7 

B. 

5 

Northampton, 

3 

A* 

10 

Pittsfield,     . 

2 

E. 

*  Color  Company. 

The  ' '  warrant "  or  non-commissioned  officers  were  an 
nounced,  and  everything  hastened  to  complete  the  organiza 
tion  ;  but  with  all  the  despatch  possible,  it  was  unable  to 
perfect  the  regiment  in  season  for  the  Sherman  Expedition, 
which  left  Fortress  Monroe  October  29,  1861.  October 
14th  and  22d,  the  regiment  paraded  through  the  city,  receiv 
ing  hearty  compliments  from  the  citizens  and  press  for 
appearance,  evolutions  and  discipline. 

Sunday,  October  20th,  Bev.  Henry  M.  Parsons,  pastor 
of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  Springfield,  preached 
upon  the  grounds  an  eloquent  and  stirring  sermon  from 
1  Cor.  16  :  13  —  "  Quit  yourselves  like  men  ;  be  strong." 

October  25th  the  following  line  officers  received  their 
commissions,  and  were  mustered  into  service  :  — 


LINE    OFFICERS. 


17 


Co. 

Captains. 

First  Lieutenants. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

A 

S.  C.Vance,  Indianapolis, 
Ind. 

M.  H.  Spaulding,  North- 
ampton. 

E.  C.  Clark,  Northamp 
ton. 

B 

A.  \V.  Caswell,  Gardner. 

P.  W.  McManus,  Uaven- 
port,  Iowa. 

L.  H.  Horton,  Athol. 

C 

W.  H.  Walker,  Green- 
lield. 

J.  H.  Nutting,  Greenfield. 

W.    F.    Barrett,    Green 
field. 

D 

T.  W.  Sloan,  Amherst. 

A.  R.  Uennison,  Amherst. 

J.  H.  Aitcherson,  Chico- 

pee. 

E 

G.  A.  Fuller,  Springfield. 

J.   W.   Trafton,    Spring 
field. 

L.  J.  Bradley,  Lee. 

F 

L.  F.  Thayer,  AVesttield. 

J.  W.  Moore,  Tolland. 

J.  H.  Fowler,  Westfield. 

G 

II.  R.  Swift,  Cliicopee. 

P.  S.  Bailey,  Springlield. 

F.  C.Wright,  Northamp 
ton. 

II 

W     G.       Bartholomew, 
Springtield. 

C.  H.  Sandford,  Adams. 

W.  H.  11.  Briggs,  Adams. 

I 

H.  A.  Hubbard,  Ltidlow. 

E.    K.   Wilcox,  Spring 
tield. 

C.  W.  -Goodale,  Wilbra- 
ham. 

K 

II.  K.  Cooley,  Springfield. 

George  Warner,   Spring 
field, 

W.  C.  Hunt,  Springfield. 

The  afternoons  were  given  to  ' '  battalion  drill "  and 
"dress  parade,"  drawing  large  crowds  of  spectators;  and 
hours  of  leisure  to  wrestlings,  dances,  games  and  visits. 
The  sutlers  Langdon  and  Bid\vell  erected  a  shed  just 
outside  the  guard.  This  establishment  was  complete  of  its 
kind  ;  and  its  supplies,  while  those  ordinarily  on  sale  at  such 
places,  might  be  guaranteed  to  produce  anything  from  a  dys 
peptic  to  a  full-fledged  corpse.  One  of  the  unexplained  inci- 
cents  connected  with  this  institution,  was  the  placing  of  a 
barrel  in  their  keeping,  and  wonderful  to  tell,  the  morning 
following  the  body  was  found,  but  the  spirit(s)  had  departed. 

October  29th  our  entire  equipment  was  at  hand,  including 
horses,  baggage  wagons,  and  ambulances  ;  and  the  regiment 
received  orders  to  start  for  the  front  Saturday,  November  2d. 


18  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  morning  of  the  1st  we  were  reviewed  by  Quarter 
master  General  Reed,  and  in  the  afternoon  by  Gov.  John 
A.  Andrew  and  staff. 

This  closed  our  duty  at  Camp  Reed,  nothing  having 
occurred  to  darken  our  experiences.  All  was  bright  and 
inspiriting,  and  — barring  the  little  incursions  which  will  be 
made  by  men  promiscuously  gathered  —  our  stay  was  as 
pleasant  to  those  living  near  the  grounds  as  to  ourselves. 


AWAITING    OEDEES.  19 


CHAPTER  II. 

OFF  FOR  THE  WAR. 

» 

SATURDAY,  November  2d,  opened  cool  and  clear ;  the  rus 
tling  leaves  and  curling  smoke  being  quickly  driven  to  shelter 
before  a  strong  north-west  wind.  Daily  duties  and  prepara 
tions  were  soon  over,  and  with  our  first  three  days'  rations, 
and  with  knapsacks  slung,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts 
Regiment  awaited  orders.  At  nine  o'clock  the  signal  to 
"  break  camp"  was  given,  and  the  field  of  tents  disappeared 
as  by  magic.  Hospital,  camp  equipage,  and  supplies,  were 
soon  en  route  to  the  railroad ;  and  the  frisky  wind  fanned 
the  smouldering  camp-fires  into  a  flame,  which  speedily  con 
sumed  the  straw  with  which  our  tents  had  been  bountifully 
provided. 

At  noon,  with  three  rousing  cheers  for  "  our  homes,"  for 
"  Camp  Reed,"  and  for  "our  flag,"  we  stood  in  line  as  on 
dress  parade,  nine  hundred  and  eighty  strong.  Though  we 
could  not  fathom  the  experiences  through  which  success 
would  be  reached,  an  intelligent  soldierly  bearing  gave 
promise  that  the  remnant  would  return  with  the  laurels  of 
victory,  and  of  an  honorable  peace. 

Awaiting  escort,  our  b:ind  favored  the  assembled  multi 
tude  with  national  airs  and  "  Home,  Sweet  Home,"  in  which 
last  the  regiment  joined  with  a  fervency  and  pathos  inimita 
ble.  It  was  the  soul  offering  its  tribute  of  love  at  a  shrine 
before  which  it  was  certain  many  would  never  again  appear. 
It  was  a  refrain  receding  to  our  hillside  homes,  assuring 
them,  that,  though  duty  now  separated  us,  our  hearts  would 
watch  for  the  dawning  of  the  day  permitting  our  return. 


20  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

At  half-past  twelve  Colonel  Lee  gave  the  order  "  Column  ! 
— Forward  ! — Guide  left !— March  !  !  "  and  with  firm,  reliant 
step,  and  colors  to  the  breeze,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massa 
chusetts  Eegiment  of  Infantry  took  up  its  march  for  the 
front.  The  feelings  of  such  an  hour  the  pen  cannot  portray. 
Thoughts  were  too  deep  for  expression.  The  silent  recesses 
of  hearts  with  such  an  experience  can  only  know  the  secret 
fullness  of  such  moments. 

Our  line  of  march  was  through  State  and  Main  streets  to 
the  "Boston  &  Albany"  depot,  two  miles  and  a  half  dis 
tant,  our  escort  consisting  of  the  Armory  Band,  Union 
Guard,  Ocean  Fire  Company,  and  the  Springfield  Cadets. 

Although  much  of  the  display  attending  the  departure  of 
earlier  organizations  was  omitted,  yet  it  was  not  a  heartless 
multitude  which  gave  homage  on  the  way.  The  railroads 
centering  at  Springfield  had  made  excursion  rates  ;  and  the 
hillside  homes  of  Berkshire,  Franklin,  and  Hampshire, 
joined  with  Hampdcn  and  Western  Worcester  in  doing- 
honor  to  the  occasion.  Gray-haired  sires  and  matrons, 
queenly  women  and  blushing  maidens,  thronged  the  curbing 
with  tearful  eyes,  showering  blessings  and  adieus ;  while 
enough  of  ardor  was  evinced  by  waving  of  kerchiefs  and 

o  J 

national  colors  to  show  the  enthusiasm  the  occasion  inspired. 
Controlling  their  sorrows  opportunely,  the  Spartan  mothers 
and  daughters  of  New  England  gave  us  new  strength,  by 
inspiring  us  with  their  own  matchless  fortitude  and  loyalty. 
In  their  veins  coursed  the  blood  of  heroes,  and  they  gave, 
and  ever  will  give,  the  sterile,  rocky  soil  of  New  England 
its  chief  excellency,  a  race  of  sons  and  daughters  whose 
acts  best  enshrine  the  royalty  of  their  ancestors. 

"  The  maid  who  binds  her  warrior's  sash 

With  smile  which  well  her  pain  dissembles, 
The  while  beneath  her  drooping  Irish 

One  starry  tear-drop  hangs  and  trembles ; 


DEPARTURE.  21 

Though  heaven  alone  records  the  tear, 

And  fame  should  never  hear  the  story, 
Her  heart  has  shed  a  drop  as  dear 

As  ever  dewed  the  field  of  glory. 

'•  The  wife  who  girds  her  husband's  sword 

JVlid  little  ones  who  weep  or  wonder, 
And  bravely  speaks  the  cheering  word, 

What  though  her  heart  be  rent  asunder ; 
Doomed  nightly  in  her  dreams  to  hear 

The  bolts  of  war  around  her  rattle, 
Has  poured  as  sacred  flood,  as  e'er 

Was  poured  upon  the  plain  of  battle. 

"The  mother  who  conceals  her  grief, 

While  to  her  breast  her  son  she  pi-esses ; 
Then  breathes  a  tew  brave  words,  though  brief, 

Kissing  the  patriot  brow  she  blesses  ; 
With  no  one  but  her  secret  God 

To  know  the  pain  that  weighs  upon  her, 
Sheds  holy  blood  as  ere  the  sod 

Received  on  freedom's  field  of  honor." 

No  wonder,  then,  that,  commissioned  by  such  hands,  each 
comrade  swore  fealty  to  ancestral  honor,  and  vowed  that  no 
act  of  his  should  cause  that  mother,  or  the  maid  whose 
plight  was  held,  to  spurn  us  as  tainted  ones  on  our  return. 

Arriving  at  the  depot  an  hour  later,  we  stacked  arms  and 
awaited  transportation  until  four  o'clock,  when,  with  part 
ings  said,  we  turned  our  hack  on  home  and  friends,  and  were 
"  off  for  the  war."  Our  train  consisted  of  twenty-one  cars, 
drawn  by  two  powerful  engines,  with  which  we  sped  our 
way  over  the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad,  the  platform  of 
each  station,  as  we  passed,  crowded  \vith  anxious,  expectant 
friends.  These  phices  had  contributed  to  our  ranks,  and  as 
the  train  rushed  by,  cheers  were  given  in  lieu  of  the  blessings 
friends  were  not  permitted  to  speak,  and  chubby  babes  were 
raised  above  the  surging  crowd,  that  their  fathers  might 
catch  one  more  glimpse  of  the  little  ones. 


22  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

At  eleven  o'clock  we  arrived  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  where, 
after  considerable  delay,  we  boarded  the  Steamer  "  Connecti 
cut,"  and,  stretched  upon  the  cabin  floor,  were  soon  asleep. 
While  transferring  our  baggage,  Corporals  R.  R.  McGregor 
and  Charles  Hadley,  of  Company  K,  were  pressed  overboard, 
•but  were  fortunately  rescued  unharmed. 

At  three  o'clock,  Sunday  morning,  we  turned  our  prow 
towards  Xew  York  City,  and  by  light  had  reached  the  vicin 
ity  of  Rhinebeck.  Nature  had  reserved  her  richest  charms, 
and  the  trip  down  the  Hudson  River  will  retain  its  place 
amongst  the  most  vivid  recollections  of  our  army  experience. 
Mountains,  glens  and  villages  were  bathed  in  sunlight  and 
rich  autumnal  colors,  while  hillsides  here  and  there  were 
dotted  with  camps,  whose  occupants  cheered  lustily  as  we 
passed.  West  Point  and  the  "  Narrows,"  with  their  sugges 
tive  histories  ;  the  numerous  cities,  towns,  and  Arillas,  with 
their  rich  surroundings  ;  the  long  line  of  Palisades,  with  their 
cascades  from  dizzy  heights  ;  and  the  "  Empire  City,"  with 
its  far-reaching  suburbs,  steeples  and  turrets,  steamers  and 
masts,  all  conduced  to  awaken  pleasure  and  enthusiasm. 

At  one  P.M.  we  were  received  at  the  "  Jersey  City"  depot 
by  Col.  Frank  Howe,  Massachusetts  agent  to  provide  for 
her  troops  en  route.  During  the  collation  served,  he  re 
minded  us  that  we  "  went  forth  with  no  spirit  of  vindictive- 
ness,  but  to  teach  the  South  that  the  United  States  was 
bounded,  on  the  north  by  British  America,  east  by  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  south  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Mexico, 
and  west  by  the  Pacific  Ocean."  Colonel  Barnes  and  others 
followed,  with  fitting  remarks,  Colonel  Lee  responding  in 
behalf  of  the  regiment. 

At  five  r.M.  we  left  Jersey  City,  reaching  Philadelphia  at 
midnight,  where  a  most  sumptuous  collation  was  furnished 
us  at  Cooper's  Volunteer  Refreshment  Rooms,  —  a  collation 
suited  to  an  epicure,  and  more  than  appreciated  by  us. 

The  idea  of  these  rooms,  says  Lossing,  arose  in  this  way. 


COOPER'S    REFRESHMENT   ROOMS.  23 

The  wife  of  a  mechanic  living  near  the  foot  of  Washington 
Avenue,  was  so  affected  by  the  needs  of  our  men  passing  to 
the  front,  that  she  went  out  one  morning  with  a  coffee-pot 
and  cup,  and  distributed  its  contents  among  them.  From 
this  act,  was  suggested  the  "  Cooper  Refreshment  Rooms," 
through  whose  beneficence  upward  of  a  million  and  a  quarter 
volunteers  were  bountifully  fed.  Later,  a  hospital  was  estab 
lished  as  auxiliary  to  its  work,  and  cared  for  over  twenty 
thousand  wounded  and  sick  returning  from  the  army.  When 
information  was  received  of  a  regiment  en  route  to  the  city, 
a  signal  gun  was  fired,  bringing  a  large  number  of  ladies  to 
the  rooms,  and  whenever  the  troops  arrived,  the  tables  were 
loaded  with  smoking  viands  suited  to  the  most  delicate 
tastes. 

No  inquiry  was  made  as  to  what  State  the  regiment  was 
from ;  it  was  enough  to  know  they  were  soldiers  of  the 
Union. 

Philadelphia,  and  the  noble  women  who  served  us  at  mid 
night,  "  did  themselves  proud, "and  their  loving  "  God  bless 
you,  boys  ! "  met  a  hearty  return  from  the  Twenty-Seventh. 
Monday  morning,  under  darkness  and  a  threatening  sky,  we 
moved  across  the  city,  and  at  six  A.M.  entered  the  cars,  the 
transportation  agent  remarking  that  "  no  regiment  in  his 
experience  had  accomplished  this  with  so  much  order  and 
decorum.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "I  never  knew  the  like  ;  you 
have  not  a  single  tipsy  man  aboard  !  "  If  this  virtue  wras  a 
necessity,  it  is  much  to  the  credit  of  some  one. 

On  reaching  Perry ville,  at  ten  A.M.,  we  found  several 
regiments  awaiting  transportation.  After  some  delay  we 
were  ordered  aboard  a  train,  and  moved  forward,  much  to 
the  chagrin  and  vexation  of  those  whom  we  had  found  there, 
who  were  disposed  to  treat  it  as  anything  but  a  joke.  We 
are  inclined  to  think  there  was  a  bit  of  diplomacy  used, 
which  we  fortunately  enjoyed,  as  we  hastened  to  Baltimore, 
where  we  arrived  at  five  P.M.,  and  were  served  with  refresh- 


24  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ments  by  the  Union  Committee.  The  ominous  bullet-holes 
were  everywhere  present  in  the  depot,  and  we  were  credited 
with  being  the  first  regiment  passing  through  the  city  with 
unloaded  arms  since  the  unfortunate  attack  upon  the  Massa 
chusetts  Sixth,  April  19,  1861.  As  soon  as  a  freight  train 
could  be  secured,  we  were  forwarded  to  Annapolis,  arriving 
there  at  three  A.M.,  November  5th,  where  we  were  quartered 
in  the  Naval  School  buildings. 

At  noon  of  the  same  day  we  marched  westerly  to  a  plain 
a  mile  distant,  and  established  "Camp  Springfield."  The 
ground  was  rolling  and  well  suited  for  its  purpose  as  a  ren 
dezvous  of  troops,  and  camp  of  instruction.  Here  we  found 
the  Massachusetts  Twenty-Fifth,  Colonel  Upton,  and  the  Fif 
ty-First  New  York,  Colonel  Ferrero,  already  in  camp,  and 
were  soon  after  joined  by  the  Twenty-Third  and  Twenty- 
Fourth  Massachusetts,  and  Eighth  and  Tenth  Connecticu"1. 
regiments. 

The  change  from  Massachusetts  to  Maryland  was  like  mov 
ing  the  seasons  backward,  and  exchanging  November  for 
September.  Hardly  had  the  lines  been  established,  with  the 
men  fairly  at  work  pitching  their  tents,  than  the  ubiquitous 
darkies,  —  uncles,  aunties,  shades,  quadroons  and  octoroons, 
—  bowing,  scraping,  and  scratching,  plied  us  with  their  hoe- 
cakes,  fried  and  sweet -potato  pies,  banjos  and  clog-dances, 
until  all  work  was  well-nigh  suspended,  and  in  desperation 
they  were  ordered  beyond  the  lines. 

October  23d,  Brig.  Gen'l  Ambrose  E.  Burnside  had  been 
ordered  to  organize  an  expedition,  with  headquarters  at  An 
napolis,  Md.  It  was  first  intended  that  this  expedition 
should  contend  with  the  batteries  on  the  Potomac  River  and 
other  waters  of  Virginia,  and  hence  it  was  composed  of 
troops  from  the  Atlantic  States,  as  possessing  greater  nauti 
cal  skill  and  fitness  for  the  experience  likely  to  fall  to 
them.  After  the  arrival  of  many  of  the  troops  at  Annapolis, 
and  upon  further  consultation  with  General  McClellan  and 


FIRST    ACTIVE    SERVICE.  25 

the  War  Department,  the  original  plan  was  given  up  by  Gen 
eral  Burnsicle,  as  will  appear  in  this  history. 

Rumors  prevailing  of  a  contemplated  raid  by  the  rebels, 
on  the  Annapolis  Branch  Railroad,  General  McClellan 
ordered  the  patrol  doubled  to  the  Junction,  some  twenty 
miles  distant ;  and  Company  A  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mas 
sachusetts  reported  to  Colonel  Morse  of  the  Twenty-First 
Massachusetts  Regiment  for  this  duty. 

The  company  was  divided  into  three  detachments ; 
Lieutenant  Spaulding  with  the  first  being  left  about  seven 
miles ;  Lieutenant  Clark  with  a  second,  five  miles ;  and 
Captain  Vance  with  the  remainder  at  Anderson's  SAvitch, 
two  miles, — from  Annapolis  Junction.  It  is  not  given 
out  that  there  were  any  raids  or  hair-breadth  escapes,  ex 
cept  for  certain  luckless  "  cullud  indiwiduals  "  returning 
from  "  seein'  Dinah  on  de  nex'  plantation."  These  were 
several  times  halted  with  an  exhibition  of  molar  ivory  sug 
gestive  of  discomfiture.  The  company  returned  to  camp 
the  13th,  and  prided  themselves  with  the  honors  of  the 
first  active  service  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  Brig.  Gen'l  Ambrose  E. 
Burnside,  who  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  forces 
in  the  vicinity  of  Annapolis,  made  his  first  inspection, 
attended  by  Secretaries  Seward  and  Cameron,  with  Gov. 
John  A.  Andre w  of  Massachusetts,  and  officers  of  high 
rank  in  the  army.  On  the  27th  of  November  sixteen  regi 
ments  were  present,  and  were  brigaded  as  follows  :  — 

First    Brigade. 

Brig.  Gen'l  JOHN  G.  FOSTER,  Commanding. 

Twenty-Third  Massachusetts,  Col.  John  Kurtz. 
Twenty-Fourth  Massachusetts,  Col.  Thomas  G.  Stevenson. 
Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts,  Col.  Edwin  Upton. 
Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts,  Col.  Horace  C.  Lee. 
Tenth  Connecticut,  Col.  Charles  L.  Russell. 


26  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

(Second.    Brigade. 

Brig.  Gen'l  JESSE  L.  RENO,  Commanding. 

Twenty-First  Massachusetts,  Col.  Augustus  Morse. 
Sixth  New  Hampshire,  Col.  Nelson  Converse. 
Fifty-First  New  York,  Col.  Edward  Ferrero. 
Ninth  New  Jersey,  Col.  Joseph  W.  Allen. 
Fifty-First  Pennsylvania,  Col.  J.  F.  Hartranft. 

Third.    Brigade. 

Brig.  Gen'l  JOHN  G.  PARKE,  Commanding. 

Fourth  Rhode  Island,  Col.  J.  P.  Rodman. 
Fifth  Rhode  Island  Battalion,  Maj.  Job  Wright. 
Eighth  Connecticut,  Col.  Edward  Harland. 
Eleventh  Connecticut,  Col.  T.  H.  C.  Kingsbury. 
Eighty-Ninth  New  York,  Col.  H.  S.  Fairchilds. 
Fifty-Third  New  York,  Col.  Lionel  J.  De  Epinueil. 

Battery  F,  Capt.  Charles  Belger,  Rhode  Island  Artillery, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  men,  one  hundred 
and  twenty  horses,  four  ten-pound  Parrott  guns,  and  two 
twelve-pound  field  howitzers,  constituted  a  part  of  the 
division. 

General  Burnside's  staff  consisted  of  Capt.  Lewis  Rich 
mond,  Assistant  Adjutant  General;  Capt.  Herman  Biggs, 
Division  Quartermaster ;  Capt.  T.  C.  Slaight,  Assistant 
Division  Quartermaster;  Capt.  Charles  G.  Loring,  Assist 
ant  Division  Quartermaster ;  Capt.  E.  R.  Goodrich,  Com 
missary  of  Subsistence ;  Capt.  William  Cutting,  Assistant 
Commissary  of  Subsistence ;  Capt.  J.  J.  De  Wolf,  Assistant 
Commissary  of  Subsistence  ;  Lieut.  D.  H.  Flagler,  Ordi 
nance  Officer ;  Lieut,  Duncan  C.  Pell,  Lieut.  George  Fear 
ing,  Aides-de-Camp  ;  Maj.  W.  H.  Church,  Division  Surgeon. 

General  Foster's  staff:  Capt.  S.  Hoffman,  Assistant 
Adjutant  General ;  Capt.  Daniel  Messenger,  Brigade  Quar- 


MAJOR-GENERAL    BURNSLDE.  27 

termaster  ;  Capt.  E.  E.  Potter,  Commissary  of  Subsistence  ; 
Capt.  P.  W.  Hudson,  Aide-de-Camp  ;  Lieut.  E.  N.  Strong, 
Lieut.  G.  N.  Pendelton,  Lieut.  J.  F.  Anderson,  Volunteer 
Aids. 

As  we  were  but  indirectly  connected  with  the  Second  and 
Third  Brigades,  the  staffs  of  these  are  omitted. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  AMBROSE  EVERETT  BURNSIDE, 
who  commanded  this  force,  was  born  May  23,  1824,  the  fifth 
child  of  Edgehill  Burnside,  Esq.,  an  attorney  of  Liberty, 
Union  County,  Ind.,  who  was  in  direct  descent  from  Revolu- 
tionary  heroes,  and  in  early  life  had  moved  from  South 
Carolina  to  the  above  place,  where  he  was  favored  with  many 
public  offices  and  trusts.  His  son  Ambrose  received  an 
appointment  as  a  cadet  at  West  Point  in  1843,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  Artillery  July  1,  1847,  with  a  commission  as 
brevet  second  lieutenant  of  Artillery.  He  was  promoted 
to  second  lieutenant  of  the  Third  United  States  Artillery 
Sept.  8,  1847,  and  joined  the  army  in  Mexico,  but  too  late 
for  active  service  in  the  field.  On  his  return  he  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Adams,  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  was  subsequently 
ordered  to  Xew  Mexico,  where  he  was  connected  with 
Bragg's  famous  battery. 

Leaving  the  army  in  1853,  General  Burnside  was  for  a 
time  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fire-arms,  which  proving 
unremunerative,  he  was  found  at  the  opening  of  the  Rebellion 
in  Chicago,  as  treasurer  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
Accepting  the  command  of  the  First  Rhode  Island  Infantry, 
he  was  present  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run,  acting  as 
brigadier-general  in  command  of  the  First  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  and  rendered  conspicuous  service  in  saving  the 
routed  Union  forces.  The  successful  organization  and  ex 
ploits  of  the  Burnside  Expedition  were  worthy  of  the  man 
whose  name  it  bore,  and  the  magnanimity  with  which  he 
shared  his  success  with  others,  was  a  trait  rarely  exhibited. 


28  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

General  Burnside  was  continuously  in  command  of  the 
Ninth  Army  Corps,  from  its  organization  until  the  close  of 
hostilities,  save  the  brief  times  in  which  he  commanded  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  when  temporarily  surrendering  it 
to  Major-General  Foster,  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  His  service 
was  rendered  on  the  fields  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee, 
as  well  as  on  the  stubbornly  contested  fields  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  repeatedly  chosen  governor 
of  Rhode  Island,  from  which  position  he  was  advanced  to  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  was  still  holding  this  hon 
orable  position  at  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Bristol,  R.  I., 
Sept.  13,  1881,  at  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  General  Burn- 
side  died  at  the  pinnacle  of  feme,  not  worn  and  laid  aside  by 
service  and  age,  but  in  the  vigorous  use  of  all  his  powers. 

"  Leaves  have  their  time  to  fall, 
And  flowers  to  wither  at  the  north  wind's  breath, 

And  stars  to  set,  —  but  all, 
Thou  hast  all  seasons  for  thine  own,  O  Death  !  " 

His  heroic  patriotism,  noble  magnanimity,  tender  sym 
pathy  and  self-sacrificing  spirit,  were  traits  endearing  him 
alike  to  his  command  and  his  country.  His  life  was  clear 
and  frank  as  an  open  book.  No  suspicion  of  jealousy  of 
superiors,  or  wilful  neglect  of  subordinates  ever  justly  rested 
upon  him.  He  was  not  of  stolid  mind,  able  to  disregard  the 
sacrifices  and  sufferings  of  the  field,  for  his  nature  recoiled  at 
carnage,  and  —  we  say  it  charitably  —  this  led  to  a  hesitancy 
in  precipitating  contests  where  it  is  possible  a  little  more 
promptness  might  have  resulted  in  greater  economy  of  life 
and  limb.  No  corps  commander  had  a  stronger  hold  on  his 
command  than  General  Burnside,  and  in  the  hour  of  exulta 
tion,  when  receiving  the  intoxicating  applause  of  a  grateful 
people,  he  nobly  and  magnanimously,  as  at  Cincinnati,  re 
minded  them,  "It  is  not  to  me,  but  to  the  grand  army  of 


MAJOR-GENERAL   FOSTER.  29 

noble  men  in  the  ranks,  and  still  at  the  front,  yon  are  indebted 
for  the  victories  with  which  you  accredit  me."  This  was  not 
the  ebullition  of  a  moment,  but  the  expression  of  a  perma 
nent  conviction  to  puncture  a  bubble  of  hero  worship,  which 
ascribed  to  a  commander  all  the  achievements  wrung  from 
the  field  of  contest  by  the  valor  and  blood  of  subaltern  and 
soldier.  Consistent  with  this,  no  subordinate,  however  low 
or  menial,  ever  sought  redress  for  wrongs  at  his  hand  with 
out  a  hearing,  and  such  relief  as  the  case  demanded.  His 
large-heartedness  was  only  exceeded  by  his  bravery  and  loy 
alty,  and  though  our  service  under  his  immediate  command 
was  limited  to  some  seven  months,  it  was  long  enough  to  win 
a  warm  place  in  our  hearts,  which  will  ever  be  sacred  to  his 
memory. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  GRAY  FOSTER, 

son  of  Perley  and  Mary  Gray  Foster,  was  born  at  Whiteficld, 
Coos  County,  New  Hampshire,  May  27,  1823.  He  was  of 
loyal  lineage,  his  father  having  served  during  the  war  of  1812, 
in  command  of  the  Nashua  Artillery,  and  later  as  a  major  in 
the  State  militia.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  removed  to  Nashua, 
attending  its  public  schools,  and  advanced  to  the  Baptist 
High  School  at  Hancock,  N.  H.  He  subsequently  prepared 
for  West  Point  Military  Academy  at  Crosby's  High  School, 
Nashua.  By  request  of  Hon.  Franklin  Pierce,  senator,  and 
Hon.  Charles  G.  Atherton,  member  of  Congress,  he  was  ap 
pointed  a  cadet  and  entered  West  Point  June,  1842.  Among 
his  classmates  were  Generals  McClellan,  Couch,  Gordon, 
Oaks,  Reno,  Stoneman  and  Sturgis,  of  the  Union  army  ;  and 
Stonewall  Jackson  and  Wilcox  of  the  rebel  army.*  He 

*  His  standing  in  order  of  general  merit  or  proficiency  in  studies,  was  second  in 
Infantry  tactics,  third  in  Engineering  and  Artillery,  fourth  in  Ethics,  and  seventh  in 
Mineralogy  and  Geology.  He  also  stood  twenty-third  in  conduct,  of  two  hundred 
and  thirteen  cadets,  with  only  seven  demerits,  as  against  two  hundred  for  the  lowest 
standard  given. 


30  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

graduated  July  1,  1846,  fourth  in  standing,  with  a  commis 
sion  of  brevet  second  lieutenant  of  engineers,  United  States 
Army.  He  was  present  in  many  of  the  engagements  during 
the  Mexican  war,  and  was  brevetted  first  lieutenant  for  gal 
lant  and  meritorious  conduct  at  Contreras  and  Cherubusco. 
At  the  storming  of  Molino  del  Rey,  Sept.  8,  1847,  he  was 
one  of  the  assaulting  column,  receiving  a  severe  wound  in  the 
ankle,  and  for  conspicuous  service  was  brevetted  captain. 

From  1854  to  1857  he  was  assistant  professor  of  engi 
neering  at  West  Point ;  and  April  28,  1858,  was  assigned  to 
the  fortifications  of  North  and  South  Carolina. 

The  opening  of  the  war  found  Foster  second  in  command 
at  Fort  Sumter,  and  for  gallantry  there,  he  was  promoted  to 
a  briffadier-sreneral  of  volunteers.  On  arriving  north,  Gen- 

o  o  o 

eral  Foster  was  put  in  charge  of  the  fortifications  of  New 
York  Harbor,  and  was  ordered  Oct.  23,  1861,  to  report  to 
General  Burnside  for  duty.  At  Annapolis  he  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  first  brigade  of  the  Burnside  Expedi 
tion,  the  success  of  which  was  due  in  no  small  degree  to  his 
prudence  and  skill.  After  the  capture  of  New  Berne,  N.  C., 
he  was  appointed  military  governor  of  that  State,  and,  upon 
the  departure  of  General  Burnside  with  most  of  his  troops  to 
aid  General  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula,  succeeded  to  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina,  with  the 
difficult  task  of  holding  our  extended  lines  with  a  decimated 
force.  The  successful  record  of  the  Department  of  North 
Carolina,  recorded  in  this  work,  is  largely  due  to  his  pru 
dence,  bravery  and  foresight. 

July  16,  1863,  General  Foster  was  assigned  to  the  con 
solidated  command  known  as  the  "  Department  of  Vir 
ginia  and  North  Carolina,"  with  headquarters  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  In  November  following  he  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  Department  of  Ohio,  where,  with  a  small 
body  of  men,  he  pressed  through  a  hostile  country  to  Cum 
berland  Gap  and  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  for  the  relief  of  General 


MAJOR- GENERAL    FOSTER.  31 

Burnside,  then  under  siege  at  the  latter  place  by  Long- 
street's  rebel  forces.  Arriving  at  Knoxville,  Dec.  11, 
1863,  just  after  the  hasty  retreat  of  the  enemy,  General 
Burnside  issued  a  farewell  address  to  his  army,  expressing 
strong  friendship  for  his  successor,  and  the  complete  confi 
dence  with  which  he  entrusted  every  interest  to  his  consum 
mate  skill  and  care.  An  accident,  here,  caused  General  Fos 
ter's  Mexican  wound  to  re-open,  necessitating  a  surgical  oper 
ation,  and  by  his  own  request  he  was  relieved  by  General 
Schofield,  Jan.  24,  1864.  May  26,  1864,  he  was  assigned 
to  the  Department  of  the  South,  which  position  he  held 
until  Feb.  15,  1865,  co-operating  with  General  Sherman 
in  the  capture  of  Savannah  and  Charleston,  and  having 
the  pleasure  of  wresting  from  rebel  -hands  the  very  fort 
(Sumter)  from  which  he  had  been  ruthlessly  driven  on  the 
opening  of  hostilities.  It  was  his  fortune  to  hear  the  first 
gun  that  ushered  in  the  civil  war,  and  when  at  its  close  the 
news  arrived  in  Florida  of  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  John 
son,  he  was  still  pressing  marauding  bands  infesting  that 
State.  Upon  relief  from  duty  at  the  South,  he  was  assigned 
to  the  defences  of  Boston  Harbor,  where  declining  health 
forced  him  to  apply  for  a  "  sick  leave." 

After  thirty-two  years  of  continuous  service  he  retired  to 
his  home  at  Nashua,  where,  suffering  some  six  months  as  a 
consumptive  (a  disease  which  had  carried  off  most  of  his 
family),  he  died  Sept.  2,  1874,  and  was  buried  with  military 
and  civic  honors  due  his  rank  and  services. 

The  following  indicate  his  successive  promotions  :  - 
Brevet  First  Lieutenant,  Aug.  20,  1847  ;  Brevet  Captain, 
Sept.  8,  1847  ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Feb.  28,  1848  ;  First 
Lieutenant,  Feb.  2,  1854;  Captain,  July  1,  1860;  Brevet 
Major,  Dec.  26,  1860  ;  Brigadier-General  Volunteers,  Aug. 
21,  1861 ;  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  United  States  Army, 
Feb.  8,  1862  ;  Brevet  Colonel  United  States  Army,  March 
14,  1862;  Major-General  of -Volunteers,  July  18,  1862; 


32  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    KEG1MENT. 

Major  United  States  Army,  March  3,  1863  ;  Brevet  Briga 
dier-General  United  States  Army,  March  13,  1865  ;  Brevet 
Major-General  United  States  Army,  March  13,  1865  ;  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  United  States  Army,  March  7,  1867. 

Major-General  Foster  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
accomplished,  brave  and  prudent  officers  in  the  army,  and, 
during  his  long  and  varied  service,  never  suffered  a  defeat 
on  the  field.  He  was  endowed  with  wonderful  foresight 
and  fertility  of  resource,  enabling  him  to  provide  for  any 
emergency,  so  that  his  troops  never  were  found  in  false  or 
fatal  positions.  This  Avas  in  part  due  to  military  training, 
and  in  part  to  a  trait  asserting  itself  in  all  his  acts,  that  what 
was  worth  doing  at  all  was  worth  doing  well.  As  a  result, 
whatever  field  he  entered,  he  became  conversant  with  all 
its  features  and  detail.  As  engineer  on  the  coast  defences 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  previous  to  the  war,  he  not 
only  acquainted  himself  with  the  fortifications,  but  the 
topography  of  the  surrounding  country,  which  proved  of 
inestimable  benefit  to  himself  and  his  country  during  the 
Rebellion.  As  commander  at  New  Berne  he  built  its  fortifi 
cations  so  well,  that  though  the  enemy  drove  the  garrison 
several  times  into  the  intrenchments,  they  never  dared 
assault  them.  John  G.  Nicolay,  private  secretary  to  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  commenting  on  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter  thirty-six  hours  without  the  loss  of  a  single  life, 
says,  "  Captain  Foster,  the  accomplished  engineer  of  the 
fort,  by  many  expedients  known  to  military  science,  had 
pushed  its  defences  to  a  state  of  relative  completeness,  with 
the  limited  means  within  the  fort.  Most  of  the  embrasures 
of  the  lower  tier  of  casemates  were  closed,  .  .  .  and  here 
the  garrison  were  securely  housed." 

He  was  in  some  respects  the  opposite  of  General  Burn- 
side,  for  while  closely  allied  with,  and  prudent  of  his 
troops,  his  education,  zeal  and  loyalty  to  his  work,  led  him 
to  ignore  contingent  results  to  accomplish  his  end.  His 


MAJOR-GENERAL    FOSTER.  33 

nature  was  more  inclined  to  aggression  than  defence.  By 
restless  activity  with  a  small  force,  he  was  able  to  inflict 
serious  losses  upon  a  larger  one,  and  by  surprises  and 
reconnoissances,  to  hold  them  constantly  on  the  defensive. 
He  was  a  strict  disciplinarian ;  but  his  genial  nature  culti 
vated  a  most  cordial  relation  with  subordinates.  His  wise, 
humane,  and  yet  determined  course,  secured  the  fear  and 
respect  of  both  friend  and  foe.  As  our  brigade  or  division 
commander  in  thirteen  engagements  and  expeditions,  Gen 
eral  Foster  proved  his  eminent  ability  and  courage,  and  it 
is  safe  to  say  his  command  would  have  followed  him  (he 
always  led)  wherever  he  went.  He  was  peculiarly  the 
idol  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  and  his  frequent 
presence,  attended  by  Mrs.  Foster  and  his  staff,  at  our  dress 
parades,  with  frequent  souvenirs  —  not  forgetting  the  fawn 
from  Mrs.  Foster  —  evinced  the  high  regard  in  which  he 
held  our  organization  ;  and,  while  disparaging  none  of  our 
commanders,  he  will  always  hold  the  highest  place  in  our 
esteem. 

His  remains  now  rest  in  the  Nashua  Cemetery.  A  plain 
marble  shaft,  bearing  the  following  inscription,  marks  his 
last  resting  place  :  — 

To  MY  HUSBAND. 

JOHN    GRAY    FOSTER, 

LIEUT.  COL.  U.  S.  ENGINEERS, 

AND 

BREVET  MAJ.   GEN'L    U.   S.  ARMY, 

DIED  AT  NASHUA, 

SEPT.  2,  1874, 

AGED  51. 

Post  No.  7,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Nashua,  N.H., 
has  the  honor  of  bearing  his  name. 

The  first  Mrs.  Foster,  so  well  known  and  esteemed  by  us, 
died  just  after  the  close  of  the  war. 


34  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Of  the  officers  of  the  organizations  composing  the  Burn- 
side  Expedition,  many  rendered  conspicuous  service,  and 
for  gallantry  were  promoted  to  the  command  of  brigades  and 
divisions,  among  whom  were  Colonels  Lee,  Stevenson,  Har- 
land,  Ferrero,  Ilartranft,  and  Lieut.  Col.  C.  A.  Hccfcman. 

GENERAL    HORACE  CLARK  LEE 

was  born  in  Springfield,  Mass.,  Jan.  31,  1822,  and  enjoyed 
the  full  educational  advantages  of  that  city  with  academic 
privileges  at  Greenfield,  Mass.,  and  East  Hartford,  Conn. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  assisted  in  the  formation  of,  and 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Springfield  Light  Guards,  under 
the  command  of  Captain,  now  Colonel  J.  M.  Thompson. 
He  received  successive  promotions  in  the  Springfield  Guards 
and  at  the  time  of  the  expiration  of  their  charter  was  serv 
ing  as  a  fourth  lieutenant.  Upon  the  formation  of  the  pres 
ent  Springfield  City  Guard  Company,  Lieutenant  Lee  was 
elected  captain,  and  continued  as  its  commander  for  several 
years.  In  1854  he  was  elected  as  colonel  of  the  Third  Reg 
iment  Massachusetts  Artillery.  Under  the  reorganization  of 
the  State  Militia  and  change  of  arms,  this  regiment  was 
designated  the  Twelfth  Massachusetts  Infantry.  Colonel 
Lee  served  five  years  as  the  commander  of  the  Twelfth  Reg- 
iment,  or  as  $111  acting  brigadier-general  of  the  Sixth  Brigade, 
Third  Division,  of  the  Massachusetts  Militia,  when  he  re 
signed  his  commission.  On  a  later  reorganization,  the 
Twelfth  Regiment  was  called  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  In 
fantry  ;  and  the  six  companies  constituting  that  organization 
were  the  nucleus  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Regiment,  which  was  the  first  body  of  men  leaving  Western 
Massachusetts  to  aid  in  suppressing  the  rebellion.  Colonel 
Lee  was  prominently  mentioned  as  a  commander  for  that 
regiment. 

August  23,  1861,  Gov.  John  A.  Andrew  offered  him 
the  position  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Twenty-First 


GEN.    HORACE    C.    LEE.  35 

Massachusetts  Volunteers.  Colonel  Lee  went  to  Boston 
intending  to  accept  the  offer,  when  the  governor  informed 
him  of  authority  from  Washington  for  raising  five  additional 
regiments  in  Massachusetts,  and  of  his  desire  that  one  of 
them  should  be  raised  in  Western  Massachusetts.  The  com 
mand  of  such  an  organization  was  tendered  to  Colonel  Lee, 
and  Sept.  3,  1861,  written  authority  was  given  him  to  raise 
the  regiment.  His  commission  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiment  was  dated  Sept.  20,  1861. 
He  was  present  with  his  command  until  July  4,  1862,  par 
ticipating  in  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Island  and  New  Berne, 
N.  C. 

Upon  the  departure  of  General  Burnside  and  the  reorgan 
ization  of  the  forces  in  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Lee  was  ap 
pointed  an  acting  brigadier-general,  and  as  such  commanded 
the  Trenton  Expedition,  and  participated  in  the  Tarboro 
and  Goldsboro  expeditions.  At  Goldsboro,  General  Lee 
and  his  brigade  received  honorable  mention  for  gallantry 
in  repulsing  General  Clingman's  brigade  in  its  charge  upon 
Belger's  and  Morrison's  Batteries.  He  was  recommended  by 
Major-General  Foster  as  a  brigadier-general  of  volunteers, 
but  failed  of  being  confirmed  because  of  the  excess  of  such 
appointments  already  given  Massachusetts  officers.  General 
Foster  then  appointed  him  as  provost-marshal  general  of 
North  Carolina  and  subsequently  of  the  Department  of  Vir 
ginia  and  North  Carolina,  which  position  he  held  until  Jan 
uary,  1864.  Colonel  Lee  served  upon  commissions  and 
courts-martial  until  the  following  May,  when  he  again  took 
command  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  participating  in 
the  battles  of  Walthal  Junction,  Arrowtield  Church,  and 
Drewry's  Bluff.  At  the  last  of  these  engagements  he  was 
captured  by  the  enemy,  with  half  of  his  regiment,  and  suf 
fered  imprisonment  at  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  and 
Camp  Oglethorpe,  Macon,  Ga.  June  10th,  Colonel  Lee  — 
with  fifty  of  the  highest  LTnion  field  officers  held  by  the  Con- 


36  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

federates — was  removed  from  Macon  and  placed  in  Charles 
ton,  S.  C.,  under  fire  of  the  Union  guns  before  that  city. 
He  was  exchanged,  Aug.  2,  1864,  and  after  a  thirty  days' 
furlough  at  the  North,  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  in 
time  to  intercept  his  regiment,  then  on  its  way  to  North 
Carolina.  By  energy  and  perseverance  he  secured  an  order 
detaching  those  whose  enlistment  was  to  expire  in  Septem 
ber,  1864,  and  also  instructions  for  them  to  report  at  Spring 
field,  Mass.,  for  discharge.  Colonel  Lee  was  mustered  out 
Sept.  27,  1864,  and  for  meritorious  service  was  brevetted  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers. 

In  executive  ability,  General  Lee  was  the  peer  of  any  of 
his  associates  ;  and  it  was  the  recognition  of  his  capacity 
by  his  superior  officer  which  kept  him  so  continuously  ab 
sent  from  his  regiment.  The  varied  duty  to  which  he  has 
been  called  speaks  most  effectively  of  his  worth.  He  was 
formerly  a  dry -goods  merchant,  but  for  several  years  preced 
ing  the  war  had  been  assessor  and  collector  or  clerk  and 
treasurer  of  his  native  city.  Since  the  war  he  has  been  four 
years  in  the  Custom  House  of  Boston,  Mass.  He  is  now 
upon  his  third  term  as  postmaster  of  Springfield. 

Our  relations  with  those  with  whom  we  were  brigaded 
were  harmonious  ;  but  particularly  so  with  the  Twenty-Fifth 
Massachusetts,  Tenth  Connecticut,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey 
regiments,  and  with  Belger's  Battery.  These  by  service  and 
valor  immortalized  their  names,  and  were  a  source  of  pride 
to  their  States  and  strength  to  those  with  whom  they  were 
brigaded.  The  greatest  fortitude  and  endurance  were  exem 
plified  in  them,  and  not  a  single  act  has  tarnished  their 
record. 

In  January,  1863,  we  were  forced  to  part  with  the  noble 
Tenth  by  their  removal  to  South  Carolina,  but  all  their  career 
was  watched  with  increasing  pride.  They  were  of  the  first  to 
enter  the  rebel  capital  upon  its  evacuation.  The  "Jersey 


3.1 

- 


OUR    BRIGADE    RELATIONS.  37 

boys,"  though  not  always  brigaded  with  us,  were  always  in 
supporting  distance.  They  were  the  only  regiment  from 
that  State  serving  near  us,  and  seemed  fully  imbued  with  the 
Scotchman's  idea,  "  it  was  not  in  bulk  but  in  quality  ;  "  and 
hence,  though  serving  with  three  Massachusetts  regiments, 
they  undertook  to  make  up  disparity  in  numbers  by  superior 
valor. 

This  might  have  been  easier  of  accomplishment,  were  it 
not  for  our  brothers  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteers,  who  were  the  flower  of  Worcester  County.  This 
regiment  was  fortunate  in  the  ability  and  character  of  both 
officers  and  men,  in  internal  harmony  and  discipline,  and 
their  cordial  relations  with  others.  They  wore  present  in 
all  our  principal  engagements,  save  the  siege  of  "Little 
Washington,"  till  January,  18G5,  —  active  participants  in  all 
our  conflicts,  and  entitled  to  a  full  share  in  the  honors  of 
our  victories.  There  is  no  meed  of  praise  we  would  with 
hold  from  these  organizations  mentioned,  no  exhibition  of 
courage  of  which  we  would  not  consider  them  capable  ;  and, 
while  jealously  guarding  the  laurels  of  our  own  regiment, 
we  place  these  regiments  as  the  equal  of  any,  in  services  or 
character. 

These  expressions  in  no  sense  reflect  upon  other  organiza 
tions  with  which  we  were  at  times  connected,  but  with 
whom  from  various  causes  we  were  less  intimate. 

Thanksgiving  Day  was  observed  by  freedom  from  military 
duty.  Friends  at  home  had  remembered  us  liberally  "by 
express,"  so  that  we  were  enabled  to  enjoy  a  miniature 
feast.  To  Company  D  came  a  well-filled  box  containing 
among  other  things,  a  mammoth  turkey,  with  this  inspiring 
note  attached  :  —  "  My  patriotism  can  survive  no  longer.  I 
willingly  die  for  the  good  of  my  country,  and  when  you 
have  picked  my  bones,  give  three  rousing  cheers  for  the 
Union  and  Plainville."  The  day  closed  with  wrestling  matches, 
and  with  dancing  upon  "company  streets,"  the  fair  sex 


38  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

represented  by  comrades  with  handkerchiefs  tied  above  the 
elbow. 

Hardly  had  the  men  resigned  themselves  to  sleep  ere  a 
scattering  fire  of  musketry  occurred,  dispelling  the  dreams 
of  home  and  "festive  board."  The  long  roll  roused  the 
"  slumbering  men,"  and  the  voice  of  officers  arose  above  the 
din  :  —  "  Turn  out,  Twenty-Seventh  !  foil  in  !  !  fall  in  !  !  !  " 
The  night  was  pitchy  dark,  and  from  its  sable  mantle  came 
the  sound  of  bugle,  hurried  orders,  and  the  marshalling  to 
arms  of  other  camps.  Each  formed  in  line  on  their  "parade 
ground,"  awaiting  orders  that  were  to  direct  them  to  the 
deadly  fray  ;  the  darkness  charitably  hiding  blanched  cheeks 
and  trembling  knees  from  malicious  eyes. 

At  length  a  courier  arrives;  "it  is  a  ruse,"  "a  false 
alarm,"  to  see  how  readily  the  troops  could  be  marshalled 
for  action  ;  and  a  sneering  guffaw  ran  along  the  line  as 
visions  of  heroic  combat  vanished  into  night.  "Honors 
were  easy."  The  colonel's  cook  appeared,  excitedly  inquir 
ing,  "  Which  way  are  you  going  to  retreat?  Which  way  is 
Massachusetts  ?  "  While  the  story  went  the  rounds  of  one 
or  two  attempting  to  find  knot-holes  in  the  canvas  tents 
through  which  to  escape.  The  men  went  to  their  quarters 
with  a  noise  much  resembling  the  angry  hum  of  a  disturbed 
hive. 

The  daily  routine  of  camp  was  :  — 

Reveille  and  roll-cal',        .         .         .         .         .         .         6.30  A.M. 

Breakfast,         ........         7         " 

Guard  mounting,      .......         8         " 

Surgeon's  call,          .         .         .          .         .         .  9         " 

Company  or  battalion  drill,        .         .         ...  10         " 

Dinner,    .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  12         M. 

Battalion  or  brigade  drill  .....  2        P.M. 

Dress  parade,  .         .         .          .  .         .         4         " 

Supper,  ....          .....         5         " 

Tattoo,    .         .         .         .         .         .  .         .         9         " 

Taps,      ....  9.30    " 


THE    FIRST    DEATH.  39 

December  19th,  a  grand  review  occurred  before  General 
Burnside,  with  General  McClellan  and  several  cabinet  offi 
cers,  which  occupied  the  entire  day. 

The  configuration  of  the  ground  was  such  as  to  present 
rising  and  disappearing  lines  of  glistening  bayonets,  as  the 
brigades  marched  in  review,  or  were  engaged  in  field  move 
ments,  or  the  manual  of  arms.  The  scene  was  most  animat 
ing,  the  appearance  and  evolutions  of  the  troops  eliciting 
unqualified  praise  from  General  McClellan. 

We  received  our  first  pay  Dec.  12,  1861,  in  gold, 
the  same  being  in  full  to  November  1st,  of  which  several 
thousand  dollars  was  sent  North  the  next  day  by  Colonel  Lee, 
who  went  home  on  a  short  leave  of  absence. 

William  H.  Sheridan  of  Company  H,  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  November  18th,  the  first  of  our  long  list  of  deaths  in 
the  country's  defence.  The  next  morning,  funeral  services 
were  conducted  by  Chaplain  Sandford.  The  body,  in  its 
humble  white-pine  box,  was  placed  in  an  ambulance,  and 
the  funeral  cortege,  with  reversed  arms  and  muffled  drum, 
moved  with  slow  and  measured  step  before  the  camp. 

f 

"  He  died  at  noon  ; 

In  the  morning  came  the  small  platoon, 
With  muffled  drum,  to  bear  him  to  his  rest, 
With  sods  upon  his  manly  breast. 
Hark !     'Tis  their  fire,  his  only  knell, 
More  solemn  than  the  passing-boll. 
'Tis  well,  though  not  a  single  tear 
Laments  his  fall.     The  Volunteer ! " 

Unscathed  as  yet  by  the  vices  of  camp,  and  uncalloused 
by  the  carnage  of  battle,  all  hearts  were  moved.  The  last 
sad  rites  of  earth  by  military  usage,  are  peculiarly  simple  and 
affecting.  The  measured,  pensive  step,  the  reversed  arms, 
the  squad  of  one's  own  comrades  performing  the  last  act  of 


40  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

friendship,  the  parting  salute,  all  impress  the  truth  with  an 
unequalled  force  that, 

"  Our  hearts 

....  like  muffled  drums  are  heating 
Funeral  marches  to  the  grave." 

During  November,  the  health  of  the  regiment  was  excel 
lent,  but  in  December,  measles  became  epidemic,  and  there 
were  three  hundred  men  upon  the  sick-list,  with  the  follow 
ing  deaths  : — 

Private  FRANKLIN  HOLCOMB,  Southwick,  Co.  F,  December  25. 
"        CHARLES  REYNOLD,  New  Salem,  Co.  B,  December  27. 
u        DENNIS  C.  CARTER,  Gill,  Co.  C,  December  27. 
"        DAVID  HALEY,  Williamstown,  Co.  H,  December  28. 
"        PATRICK  McGowAN,  Greenwich,  Co.  B,  December  28. 
"        RINALDO  C.  THORP,  South  Hadley,  Co.  A,  December  29. 

Private  Holcomb  came  to  Annapolis  at  his  own  expense, 
and  enlisted  against  the  wishes  of  his  wife.  In  just  five 
weeks  his  lifeless  body  was  sent  to  her  at  Westfield. 

December  6th,  Maj.  William  M.  Brown  resigned  his 
commission,  followed,  Jan.  1,  1862,  by  Capt.  Lucius  F. 
Thayer  of  Company  F,  the  latter  resigning  on  account  of 
the  serious  and  continued  illness  of  Mrs.  Thayer. 

The  following  promotions  were  accordingly  announced  : — 

Capt.  Walter  G.  Bartholomew,  Major,  vice  Brosvn,  resigned. 

First  Lieut.  Charles  D.  Sanford,  Capt.,  vice  Bartholomew,  pro 
moted. 

Second  Lieut.  W.  II.  H.  Briggs,  First  Lieut.,  wee  Sandford,  pro 
moted. 

Sergt.  Maj.  H.  C.  Dwight,  Second  Lieut.,  vice  Briggs,  pro 
moted. 

First  Lieut.  John  W.  Moore,  Capt.,  vice  Thayer,  resigned. 

Second  Lieut.  James  H.  Fowler,  First  Lieut.,  vice  Moore,  pro 
moted. 

First  Sergt.  Pliny  Wood,  Second  Lieut.,  vice  Fowler,  promoted. 

Private  Ira  B.  Sampson,  Sergt.  Major,  vice  Dwight,  promoted. 


EMBARKING   AT   ANNAPOLIS.  41 

The  large  increase  of  sick  required  additional  accommo 
dations,  and  St.  John's  College,  Annapolis,  was  opened  for 
that  purpose.  Surgeons  Otis  and  Camp  were  assiduous  in 
attention  to  the  invalids,  and  the  question,  which  for  a  time 
existed,  as  to  our  being  able  to  accompany  the  expedition, 
was  decided  affirmatively  by  a  large  reduction  from  the  sick- 
list  at  the  opening  of  the  new  year. 

The  following  comrades  died  previous  to  or  just  after  our 
departure  : 

Private  ALVIN  E.  STEVENS,  Montague,  Company  C,  Jan.  3, 1862. 
Private  LUMAN  AKDHUS,  Westfleld,  Company  F,  Jan  4,  1862. 
Private  ELLIOTT  P.  FERRY,  Granby,  Company  D,  Jan.  5, 1862. 
Private  WILLIAM  K.  FLAGG,  Westfield,  Compairy  K,   Jan.    9, 
1862. 

Private  LESTER  H.  QUIGLEY.  Becket,  Company  II,  Jan.  12,  1862. 
Private    PETER  F.  BAKER,  Leyden,  Company  C,  Feb.  4,  1862. 

Jan.  4,  1862,  orders  were  received  to  cook  three  days' 
rations,  and  to  be  prepared  to  embark  upon  Monday, 
the  6th.  The  weather  was  pinching  cold,  with  snow 
which  upon  the  5th  was  increased  to  four  inches  in  depth. 
The  storm  of  the  last  date  was  one  of  those  sticky,  wet,  un 
comfortable  snows  so  common  at  the  South,  and  which 
makes  one  long  for  one  of  New  England's  "  regular  nor'east- 
ers  "  as  a  substitute. 

On  the  morning  of  January  6th  orders  were  given  to  pack 
knapsacks,  strike  tents,  and  be  ready  to  move  at  half-past 
eleven  ;  but  owing  to  the  crowded  condition  of  the  Navy 
Yard  —  at  which  point  the  troops  were  embarking  —  it  was 
late  in  the  day  before  the  orders  to  move  were  received. 

A  little  before  noon  the  Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts 
marched  by,  halting  long  enough  to  fire  three  salutes  before 
our  camp.  About  four  P.M.,  with  three  rousing  cheers  and 
a  tiger,  we  bade  adieu  to  Camp  Springfield,  our  tramp 
through  Annapolis  being  enlivened  by  "Lee's  March,"  an 


42  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGlMEJVj.'. 

original  piece  by  our  band,  and  so  named  in  honor  of  our 
Colonel.  At  the  Navy  Yard  we  stacked  arms,  standing 
about  in  the  freezing  slush  until  ten  P.M.,  when  the  right 
wing  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  went  aboard  the 
steamer  "  Ranger,"  and  the  left  wing  were  permitted  to  go 
within  one  of  the  naval  buildings.  There  was  no  time  in 
our  military  experience  when  we  suffered  so  much  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  as  during  the  snow-squalls  which 
prevailed  while  standing  in  line  upon  Camp  Springfield,  or 
while  waiting  at  the  Navy  Yard  in  the  freezing  slush  and 
cutting  winds  of  the  evening. 

At  three  o'clock,  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  left  wing  of 
our  regiment  was  aroused,  and  taken  by  tugs  and  row-boats 
to  the  barque  "  Guerrilla,"  the  latter  being  anchored  some 
distance  from  the  docks.  While  Capt.  H.  K.  Cooley  and 
Lieut.  W.  C.  Hunt,  with  twenty-one  members  of  our  regi 
ment,  were  being  transported  in  a  small  boat  to  the  "  Guer 
rilla,"  they  were  run  clown  by  the  stern-wheel  steamer 
"Union,"  crushing  their  boat,  and  plunging  all  into  the  icy 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake.  The  night  was  dark,  but  with 
prompt  assistance,  all  were  rescued  except  Private  James 
M.  Hamliu  of  Company  E,  Great  Barrington,  and  Michael 
Cavanaugh,  of  Company  F,  Granville.  Most  of  the  rescued 
were  insensible  ;  Captain  Cooley  and  two  others  remaining 
so  more  than  two  hours  ;  but  all  were  rallied  without  fur 
ther  serious  results. 


THE    BUBNSIDE    EXPEDITION.  43 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  BUBNSIDE  EXPEDITION. 

THIS  expedition  consisted  of  fifteen  regiments  of  infantry, 
one  battery,  Howard's  Marine  Artillery  or  Naval  Brigade, 
and  a  squadron  of  naval  vessels.  The  fleet  to  transport  the 
troops  and  supplies  comprised  eleven  steamers,  nine  armed 
propellers,  five  barques,  one  brig,  and  twenty  troop  and  sup 
ply  schooners.  The  navy  was  composed  of  eighteen  steamers 
and  two  sloops,  a  total  in  the  expedition  of  sixty-six  vessels. 
The  naval  armament  under  Commodore  Goldsborough  con 
sisted  of  fifty-four  guns,  from  an  eiglit-inch  Columbiad  to  a 
one  hundred  pound  Parrott,  rifled.  Howard's  Marine  Artil 
lery  had  fifty  pieces  suitable  for  field  use,  and,  with  Belger's 
Battery,  gave  fifty-six  guns  for  land  service.  The  strength 
of  the  expedition,  then,  was  one  hundred  and  ten  guns,  and 
about  fifteen  thousand  infantry. 

The  troops  were  embarked  as  follows  :  — 

First      Brigade. 

Brig.  Gen'l  J.  G.  FOSTER,  Commanding. 

Flag-ship,  "New  Brunswick." 

Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Vol.  Regt. ,  propeller  "Ranger"  and 
barque  "Guerrilla." 

Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "New  York,"  propeller 
"  Zouave." 

Twenty-Fourth  Mass.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "  Guide"  and  propel 
ler  "  Vidette." 


44  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Twenty-Third  Mass.  Vol.  Regt.,  propeller  "Hussar"  and 
schooner  "  Highlander." 

Tenth  Conn.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "New  Brunswick"  and 
schooner  "  Farrington." 

Second      Brigade. 

Brig.  Gen'l  Jesse  L.  REXO,  Commanding. 

"  Flag-ship,  Northerner." 

Twenty-First  Mass.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "  Northerner." 

Fifty-First  N.  Y.  Vol.  Regt.,  propeller  "  Lancer"  and  propeller 
"  Pioneer." 

Fifty -First  Penn.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "Cossack"  and  schooner 
"Scout." 

Ninth  N.  J.  Vol.  Regt.,  ship  "Ann  E.  Thompson"  and  brig 
"  Dragoon." 

Sixth  N.  H.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "Louisiana." 

Tliird     JBi'igacle. 

Brig.  Gen'l  John  G.  PAUKK,  Commanding. 

Flag-ship,  "  Eastern  Queen." 

Fourth  R  I.  Vol.  Regt.,  steamer  "  Eastern  Queen." 

Fiftli  R.  I.  Vol.  Regt.,  ship  "  Kitty  Simpson." 

Eighth  Conn.  Vol.  Regt.,  propeller  "Chasseur"  and  barque 
"  H.  D.  Boardman." 

Eleventh  Conn.  Vol.  Regt.,  propeller  "Sentinel"  and  barque 
"  Voltigeur." 

Fifty-Third  N.  Y.  Vol.  Regt.,  barque  "John  Trucks." 

Eighty-Ninth  N.  Y.  Vol.  Regt.,  ship  "  Aracan." 

The  naval  fleet  consisted  of  the  following  vessels,  com 
manded  by  Flag  Officer  L.  M.  Goldsborough  :  — 

Flag-ship  "  Southfield,"  Capt.  Behan,  3  guns. 
"  Delaware,"  Commodore  Rowan,  Capt.   S.  P.   Quackenbush,  5 
guns. 

"  Stars  and  Stripes,"  Lieut,  commanding,  Reed  "Werden,  7  guns. 


THE  RANGES  AND  GUERRILLA.  45 

"  Louisiana,"  Lieut,  commanding,  F.  K.  Murray,  5  guns. 
"Hetzel,"  Lieut,  commanding,  H.  K.  Davenport,  5  guns. 
"  Commodore  Perry,"  Lieut,  commanding,  Charles  H.  Flusser,  3 
guns. 

"  Underwriter,"  Lieut,  commanding,  W.  N .  Jeffers,  2  guns. 

"  Valley  City,"  Lieut,  commanding,  J.  C.  Chaplin,  5  guns. 

"  Commodore  Barney,"  Acting  Lieut.  K.  D.  Renshaw,  2  guns. 

"  Hunchback,"  Acting  Lieut.  E.  R.  Calhoun,  4  guns. 

"  Ceres,"  Acting  Master  S.  A.  McDermaid,  2  guns. 

"Putnam,"  Acting  Master  W.  J.  Hotchkiss,  2  guns. 

"  Morse,"  Acting  Master  Peter  Hayes,  2  guns. 

"  Lockwood,  Acting  Master  Gr.  L.  Graves,  2  guns. 

"  Sej-mour,"  Acting  Master  F.  S.  Wells,  2  guns. 

"  Brinker,"  Acting  Master  John  E.  Giddings,  1  gun. 

"  Whitehead,"  Acting  Master  Charles  A.  French,  1  gun. 

"  Shawsheen,"  Acting  Master  T.  G.  Hay  wood,  2  guns. 

Sloop  "  Granite,"  Acting  Master  Ephraim  Bomen,  1  gun. 

"  Jenny  Lind,"  •  ,  1  gun. 

The  armament  of  the  fleet  was  committed  to  Norman 
"Wiard,  Esq.,  inventor  of  the  Wiard  gun,  and,  with  the  ex 
ception  of  six  long  thirty-twos,  was  composed  of  rifled 
pieces,  with  a  range  of  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  and  one- 
half  miles . 

The  steamer  "  Kanger,"  containing  the  right  wing  of  the 
regiment,  was  a  screw  propeller,  drawing  seven  feet  of 
water,  with  three  decks  for  the  accommodation  of  troops.  It 
had  been  used  in  coastwise  trade,  and,  after  purchase  by  the 
government,  was  armed  with  two  thirty-pound  Parrotts, 
rifled,  four  twelve-pound  Wiards,  and  one  twelve-pound 
hoAvitzer.  Like  many  others  of  its  kind  in  the  fleet  it  was 
totally  unfit  for  the  service  intended,  and  should  have  been 
sent  to  sea  with  the  guilty  party  who  purchased  it  for  the 
government. 

The  barque  "  Guerrilla"  was  formerly  the  slaver  "  Mary 
Jane  Kimball,''  and  was  captured  after  an  exciting  race  of 
two  days,  with  five  hundred  slaves  aboard.  It  was  a  staunch 


46  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

vessel,  with  two  decks  and  a  hold  for  the  use  of  troops,  and 
was  a  satisfactory  exchange  for  our  canvas  tents.  Both  of 
these  vessels  were  fitted  with  temporary  berths,  suitable  for 
our  accommodation,  but  were  deficient  in  light  and  ven 
tilation. 

They  were  filled  to  their  utmost  capacity,  the  only 
chance  for  exercise  being  a  stroll  on  deck  ;  yet  to  these 
accommodations,  we  were  destined  to  be  limited  nearly 
two  months  and  a  half,  before  effecting  such  a  footing  on 
the  sacred  soil,  as  to  be  able  to  dispense  with  them. 

The  7th  and  8th  were  occupied  in  completing  the  equip 
ment  and  embarkation  of  the  expedition.  At  6.30,  on  the 
morning  of  the  9th,  the  signal  for  sailing  broke  on  the 
morning  air,  from  Gen'l  Burnside's  flag-ship,  "Pickett,"  and 
by  seven  o'clock,  the  first  brigade  was  well  under  way,  the 
"  Guerrilla "  in  tow  by  the  "Ranger."  During  the  after 
noon,  David  H.  Steele,  of  Annapolis,  who  had  enlisted  in 
our  band,  in  a  fit  of  insanity  threw  himself  overboard,  but 
was  rescued,  the  cooling  waters  inspiring  him  with  a 
remarkable  degree  of  gratitude  for  his  preservation.  Sun 
down  found  us  off  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac,  with  a  heavy 
rain  and  fog  upon  the  bay,  causing  the  fleet  to  anchor  about 
eleven  P.M.,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock.  By 
this  we  were  delayed  until  three  P.M.,  the  10th,  when  the 
fog  lifted  sufficiently  to  enable  us  to  reach  Fortress  Monroe 
at  nine  o'clock  that  evening. 

The  scene  the  morning  of  the  llth  was  full  of  activity 
and  inspiration.  Upon  the  starboard  lay  the  fortress 
with  its  frowning  armament;  eastward  the  frigates  "  Minne 
sota,"  "  Cumberland,"  "Roanoke,"  and  "Congress  ;"  south 
ward  the  Rip-raps  ;  and  five  miles  beyond,  Se wall's  .Point, 
where  vaunt  ing  ly  floated  the  rebel  flag.  The  waters  adjacent 
were  covered  with  a  forest  of  masts,  while  "  tugs"  and 
"  sails"  were  darting  here  and  there,  with  orders  to  the  fleet. 

The  ponderous  "Union"  gun,  with  its  yawning  mouth, 


CAPE    HATTER  AS.  47 

stood  as  a  faithful  guardian  near  us  ;  while  from  Sewall's 
Point  deep  reverberations  greeted  the  ear,  as  though  chal 
lenging  us  to  combat,  or  warning  of  the  reception  which 
awaited  us  beyond  that  forbidden  line.  Sealed  orders  were 
delivered,  with  instructions  "  Not  to  be  opened  until  beyond 
Cape  Henry." 

At  10  P.M.  the  signal  to  sail  wfas  given,  and  by  midnight 
we  were  off  the  Cape.  Our  sealed  orders  read:  "When 
off  Cape  Hatteras,  throw  overboard  ballast,  and  run  into 
the  inlet." 

Sunday,  the  12th,  w^e  followed  the  sand-hill  coast  of  North 
Carolina,  a  chopping  sea  inducing  considerable  sea-sickness. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  13th,  a  dark  murky  line  appeared 
along  the  northern  horizon,  causing  a  hurried  reefing  and 
securing  of  sails,  and  soon  after  we  were  struck  by  a  gale 
which  parted  our  "  hawser  "  with  the  "Ranger."  "  Hoist 
ing  the  jib,"  the  "  Guerrilla"  wras  soon  bounding  over  the 
billows,  and  in  company  with  the  "Ranger"  rounded 
Cape  Hatteras  about  two  P.M.  The  sea,  now  lashed  to 
intense  fury,  was  breaking  heavily  over  the  decks,  the  roar 
of  the  breakers  and  howling  of  the  tempest  warning  us  of 
danger  in  either  attempting  to  thread  the  fickle  channel  by 
which  the  inlet  was  reached,  or  of  anchoring  there  until  its 
fury  had  subsided.  The  "Ranger  "was  pitching  and  tum 
bling  like  a  porpoise,  and  there  wras  no  choice  for  them  ;  they 
must  enter  or  be  lost.  The  captain  wras  thoroughly  incompe 
tent  for  his  position,  and  more  frightened  than  his  crew. 
Lieut.  Col.  Lyman  being  in  command  of  the  steamer 
by  virtue  of  his  rank,  secured  the  services  of  the  engineer, 
who  proved  to  be  a  man  of  experience  and  nerve,  and 
through  him  a  favoring  Providence  granted  them  a  safe 
entrance  to  the  inlet.  A  barge  in  tow  by  the  "Ranger" 
containing  the  camp  equipage  and  hospital  supplies  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  foundered  and  was  lost. 

The  steamer  "  City  of  New  York,"  in  attempting  to  enter 


48  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  inlet,  ran  upon  a  bar,  and  in  twelve  hours  was  a  total 
wreck.  The  barque  "  Guerrilla,"  with  fourteen  other  vessels, 
undertook  with  double  anchors  and  full  chains  to  weather 
the  gale ;  but  many  others  put  out  to  sea,  and  were  unable  to 
return  until  a  week  later. 

The  morning  of  the  14th  found  those  outside  still  floun 
dering,  the  fury  of  the  storm  increased,  with  a  number  of 
flags  Union  down,  the  signal  of  distress.  The  "  Guerrilla" 
was  one  of  them,  being  without  water,  and  dragging  anchor. 
Gen'l  Burnside  saw  our  signal  of  distress,  but  no  one  could 
venture  out  of  the  inlet  in  that  storm.  His  steamer,  too, 
was  out  of  water,  and  nothing,  even  to  whiskey,  to  quench 
thirst,  the  supply  vessels  having  been  driven  to  sea.  As 
night  was  closing  upon  the  scene,  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach  the  waves  were  rolling  at  dizzy  height,  and  capped 
with  spray  and  foam.  Black,  angry  clouds  swept  by,  dip 
ping  their  edges  in  the  surging  waves,  and  the  masts  creaked 
and  groaned  as  the  vessels  careened  before  the  gale.  Gen'l 
Burnside  cast  his  eye  over  the  wreck  of  his  fleet,  exclaiming, 
"This  is  terrible!  when  will  it  cease?  what>  will  my  poor 
men  do  ? "  But  Avith  an  invincible  faith  he  rose  above  the 
discouraging  surroundings,  saying,  "The  sun  is  not  gone 
out,  though  the  sky  is  overcast !  We  are  only  so  many 
atoms  working  out  the  will  of  the  Almighty,  and  somehow 
good  will  come  out  of  this  calamity." 

For  nearly  two  days,  with  closed  and  battened  hatches,  the 
left  wing  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  upon  the  ' '  Guer 
rilla,"  had  been  confined  in  the  close  and  stifling  air  below. 
The  consequences  can  be  better  imagined  than  described  ; 
many  asserting  that  nothing  but  the  size  of  their  army  shoes 
prevented  them  from  turning  wrong  side  out.  One  of  our 
officers  expressed  a  strong  desire  for  an  interview  with  the 
author  of  "  A  life  on  the  ocean  wave,"  and  if  under  these 
circumstances  the  poet  could  not  justify  his  muse,  he  would 
choke  him  for  such  an  outrageous  deception.  The  storm 


TROUBLES    AT    HATTERAS.  49 

ended  during  the  night  of  the  14th  in  a  grand  chorus  of 
thunder  and  rain,  but  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
15th  before  the  waves  subsided  sufficiently  to  allow  of  re 
lief.  At  that  time  the  steamer  "Phoenix"  received  one- 
half  the  troops  from  the  barque,  and  the  steamer  "  Pawtux- 
ent" followed,  towing  the  "Guerrilla"  into  the  inlet,  leaving 
the  latter  at  anchor  near  Fort  Hatteras. 

The  waters  were  strewed  with  wreck,  and  wild  rumors 
were  rife  as  to  the  extent  of  our  disaster.  After  a  week's 
delay  it  proved  to  be  five  vessels  with  supplies  lost,  and 
eight  disabled.  The  16th,  while  Colonel  Allen  and  Surgeon 
Weller  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  were  attempting  to  reach 
the  wreck  of  the  steamer  "  City  of  New  York,"  their  boat 
was  capsized  and  they  were  drowned. 

To  (ien'l  Bnrnside's  task  of  reorganizing  his  shattered 
fleet  was  added  the  peril  of  a  water  famine.  Schooners 
were  despatched  from  Fortress  Monroe  laden  with  water,  and 
during  rains  the  decks  were  covered  with  rubber  blankets  to 
catch  the  aqueous  treasure.  Even  these  expedients  furnished 
but  a  small  part  of  the  quantity  needed,  and  water  became  an 
article  of  barter  and  sale. 

Lieut.  M.  H.  Spaulding  of  Company  A  was  placed  in 
charge  of  this  important  matter,  and  to  him  and  his  crew  is 
due  our  exemption  from  suffering  experienced  by  others, 
though,  with  all  his  care,  our  men  were  reduced  to  the 
allowance  of  a  pint  and  a  half  of  water  each  per  day. 

The  vessels  of  the  navy  were  stationed  as  a  cordon  around 
the  fleet  at  distances  varying  from  two  to  five  miles  from  our 
anchorage,  and  from  their  exposed  service  were  obliged 
to  keep  up  steam  at  all  times.  These  gunboats  were  fur 
nished  with  "  condensers  "  which  were  run  night  and  day,  to 
which  Lieut.  Spaulding  repaired  each  morning,  and  by  an 
early  call  was  able  to  collect  as  high  as  twenty-four  barrels 
per  trip.  Rough  or  smooth,  rainy  or  windy,  the  urgency  ol 
a  supply  of  water  was  so  imperative  as  to  admit  of  no  cessa- 


50  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

tion  of  effort;  and  Lieut.  Spanieling  with  his  crew  are 
worthy  of  honorable  mention  for  the  inestimable  service  here 
rendered.  We  were  in  the  anomalous  position  of  constant 


danger  from 


'  Water,  water,  evei^where, 
But  not  a  drop  to  drink." 


All  was  bustle  and  activity  around  the  inlet.  Officers 
bearing  orders  were  darting  in  gigs  among  the  flotilla. 
Steamers  and  tugs  were  hastening  from  point  to  point,  aid 
ing  vessels  stranded  on  the  "swash,"  or  bearing  troops  to 
them  at  their  anchorage  within  the  sound.  The  navy  occu 
pied  the  day  in  practice,  forming  in  line  of  battle,  and  dis 
charging  broadsides,  or  moving  in  column  by  division.  The 
bands  on  the  various  vessels  discoursed  their  choicest  selec 
tions,  which,  wafted  over  the  waters,  came  to  us  with  a 
rich,  subdued,  and  perfect  harmony.  Mails  neither  arrived 
nor  departed,  and  scraps  of  newspaper  were  rend  with  an 
avidity  worthy  the  choicest  authors.  The  inertia  of  confine 
ment  was  relieved  by  games,  with  the  simple  purpose  of 
"killing  time."  Cards  and  checkers  were  the  standard 
games,  and  any  scruples  as  to  the  use  of  them  disappeared 
under  the  mental  famine  existing. 

Sunday,  January  19th,  the  "left  wing"  removed  to  the 
schooner  "  Recruit,"  the  "  Guerrilla"  being  unable  to  cross 
the  "  swash."  The  "  Recruit"  had  been  used  as  a  "  hospital 
transport"  for  the  fleet,  and  from  this  cause  was  unfit  for 
the  purpose  assigned.  The  "swash"  referred  to,  was  a 
shifting  bar  of  sand  separating  the  inlet  harbor  from  the 
navigable  waters  of  the  sound.  It  could  be  crossed  at  high 
tide  only,  and  then  by  vessels  of  nine  feet  draught  or  under. 

The  20th,  the  steamer  "  Pilot  Boy,"  — now  Gen'l  Foster's 
flag-ship — took  the  left  wing  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  aboard, 
and  crossed  the  "  swash,"  awaiting  the  schooner  "  Recruit" 
which,  when  ligh^ned,  was  taken  in  tow  by  the  steamer 
"  Pickett,"to  be  brought  over.  Unfortunately  the  schooner 


UNPLEASANT   DISCOVERY.  51 

grounded,  and  the  left  wing  was  forced  to  remain  on  board 
the  "Pilot  Boy,"  without  rations  or  protection,  until  the 
next  day,  when  Lieut.  Spaulding  and  his  crew  appeared 
with  some  raw  pork  and  h;ird-tack,  the  former  being  devoured 
by  the  hungry  men  without  a  suspicion  that  it  was  uncooked. 
During  the  night  there  were  sundry  culinary  supplies  discov 
ered  aboard  the  "Pilot  Boy,"  but  £he  next  day,  when  the 
steward  wanted  them  for  Gen'l  Foster's  use,  there  was  noth 
ing  to  be  found.  The  General  good-naturedly  retorted,  if 
the  Twenty-Seventh  made  as  clean  work  of  the  enemy  as  of 
his  supplies,  it  would  be  a  sorry  day  for  the  Rebellion  when 
they  were  let  loose.  The  "  Ranger,"  with  the  right  wing, 
passed  the  "  swash"  the  22d  inst.  without  incident. 

Our  discomforts  were  enhanced  by  finding  the  vessel  filled 
with  vermin,  in  army  vernacular  known  as  "  gray  backs," 
disreputably  as  "body  lice."  Disregarding  rank  or  station 
they  invaded  cabin  and  hold,  and  proved  a  most  difficult  foe 
to  contend  with,  the  most  skilful  skirmishing  failing  to  dis 
lodge  them.  \Vhen  first  discovered,  entire  uniforms  were 
thrown  overboard,  only  to  find  the  new  suit  soon  as  lively  as 
the  old.  During  sunny  hours,  the  decks  were  covered  with 
men,  a  la  Turk,  en  deshabille,  with  clothes  turned  wrong 
side  out,  and  each  one  busily  skirmishing  with  the  marau 
ders.  Undress  was  substituted  for  "dress  parade"  and 
many  a  guffaw  elicited  by  the  spans  and  tandem  teams  im 
provised.  Washing  of  clothes  was  out  of  question,  as  we 
had  no  changes,  or  water  with  which  to  wash. 

Thus  situated  we  were  disgusted  with  our  filthiness,  and 
anxiously  awaited  deliverance. 

While  anchored  at  the  inlet,  a  detail  from  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment  was  made  under  Capt.  Moore,  for  laying 
pontons.  As  they  were  engaged  in  the  work,  the  steamer 
"  Union,"  —  familiarly  known  as  the  "  Wheelbarrow,"  from 
having  a  stern  wheel,  —  was  backing  around  in  their  vicinity, 
when  it  unfortunately  wrecked  Capt.  Moore,  his  crew  and 


52  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

boat,  by  drawing  them  under.  This  steamer  seemed  to 
spite  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  it  being  the  same  one 
which  swamped  Capt.  Cooley  and  his  crew  at  Annapolis,  Md. 
The  tide  was  going  out  strong,  and  as  the  men  had  on  their 
heavy  coats  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  get  from  under  the  flat 
bottomed  hulk.  Fortunately  they  were  near  the  shore,  and 
with  prompt  assistance  all  were  rescued.  While  the  captain 
was  still  submerged,  Jones,  a  tall  six-footer  who  happened  to 
be  on  shore,  exclaimed,  "  I  declare,  captain's  watch  will  be 
spoilt  in  that  saltwater!"  The  captain  was  saved,  but  it 
was  some  time  before  Jones  heard  the  last  of  the  watch. 

Everything  now  betokened  an  early  movement,  but  Gen'l 
Burnside  had  as  yet  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  enemy's 
forces  and  position,  till,  fortunately,  about  the  last  of  Jan 
uary,  a  schooner  was  seen  bearing  towards  our  fleet,  which 
when  overhauled  by  our  navy,  proved  to  be  from  Roanoke 
Island,  laden  with  wood,  and  with  three  contrabands  aboard. 
One  of  them  proved  an  intelligent  man,  knowing  the 
enemy's  force  and  position,  with  the  location  and  armaments 
of  all  their  forts.  From  his  information  the  plan  of 
attack  at  Roanoke  was  arranged,  and  his  services  were 
secured  as  a  guide  for  our  forces  in  the  movement. 

February  3d,  Gen'l  Burnside  issued  the  following  order  :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

PAMLICO  SOUND,  Feb.  3,  1862. 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  5. 

This  expedition  being  about  to  land  on  the  soil  of  North  Caro 
lina,  the  General  commanding,  desires  his  soldiers  to  remember 
that  they  are  here  to  support  the  constitution  and  the  laws,  to  put 
down  rebellion,  and  to  protect  the  persons  and  property  of  the 
loyal  and  peaceable  citizens  of  the  State.  On  the  march  of  the 
army  all  unnecessaiy  injury  to  houses,  barns,  fences,  and  other 
property  will  be  carefully  avoided,  and  in  all  cases  the  law  of  civ 
ilized  warfare  will  be  strictly  observed. 

Wounded  soldiers  will  be  treated  with  care  and  attention,  and 
neither  they  nor  prisoners  must  be  annoyed  by  word  or  act. 


ORDER   NUMBER    FOUR.  53 

With  the  fullest  confidence  in  the  valor  and  character  of  his 
troops,  the  General  commanding  looks  forward  to  a  speedy  and 
successful  termination  of  the  campaign. 

By  command  of  Brigadier  General, 

A.  E.  BURNSIDE. 
LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Asst.  Adj.  Gen' I. 

The  next  day  the  following  order  was  promulgated  :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  GEN'L  FOSTER'S  BRIGADE. 

STEAMER  "  PILOT  BOY," 

DEPARTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  Feb.  4,  1862. 
GEXEKAL  ORDER,  No.  4. 

The  vessels  of  this  brigade  will  be  prepared,  with  hawsers  out  to 
their  tows,  to  start  at  eight  o'clock,  A.M.,  to-morrow,  or  chains 
hove  short,  etc.,  and  will  leave  the  anchorage  for  Roanoke  Island 
at  the  following  signal:  —  Union  Jack  at  fore  with  the  division 
flag  underneath  (or  brigade  flag  underneath,  in  case  of  brigade  sig 
nal),  and  American  flag  at  the  stern,  and  will  sail  in  the  following 
order : 

No.  1,  "Pilot  Boy." 

No.  2,  steamer  "New  York"  towing  schooners  "Highlander," 
"  Skirmisher,"  and  "  S.  P.  Bailey." 

No.  3,  steamer  "  New  Brunswick"  towing  schooners  "  Recruit" 
and  "E.  W.  Farrington." 

No.  4,  steamer  "Guide,"  towing  schooners  "Sea  Bird"  and 
"  Emma." 

No.  5,  propeller  "  Hussar." 

No.  6,  propeller  "  Ranger." 

No.  7,  "  Vidotte." 

After  rounding  the  shoal  and  entering  the  sound,  the  vessels  will 
form  in  two  lines,  the  first  line  being  steamers  "  New  York," 
"  New  Brunswick,"  and  "  Guide,"  with  their  tows,  the  second  line 
being  the  propellers  "  Hussar,"  "Ranger"  and  "  Yidette." 

The  signal  for  anchoring  will  be  the  American  flag  at  the  fore, 
vessels  of  each  brigade  close  to  each  other.  If  in  a  fog,  two  whis 
tles  from  the  flag-ships,  repeated  at  intervals  of  one  minute.  The 
signal  will  be  repeated  by  the  flag-ship  of  each  brigade. 

A  guard  often  men,  under  command  of  a  commissioned  or  non- 


54  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

commissioned  officer,  to  include  convalescent,  commission  or  extra- 
duty  men  of  all  kinds,  must  be  left  on  each  vessel,  with  the  follow 
ing  strict  injunctions,  viz.  :  — 

Not  to  allow  a  vessel  to  be  moved  from  its  anchorage  unless 
necessitated  by  stress  of  weather,  danger  of  collision,  or  order  of 
brigade  commander  ;  and  to  defend  the  ship  against  all  attacks  ; 
and  to  preserve  order  and  militar}'  discipline  on  board. 

On  landing  on  the  beach,  the  regiments  of  this  brigade  will  form 
according  to  their  numbers,  from  right  to  left,  in  line  of  battle. 
One  field  officer  —  the  colonel  preferred  —  will  land  with  the  first 
de'achment  from  his  regiment.  In  case  of  stranding  or  distress, 
the  signal  will  be  the  American  flag,  Union  down.  At  the  signal 
the  whole  fleet  will  slacken  speed  and  look  for  the  signal  to  anchor. 
The  steamers  "  Pilot  Boy,"  "Phoenix,"  and  "  Pawtuxent,"  and  all 
the  tugs,  will  be  sent  at  once  to  the  assistance  of  the  disabled  ves 
sel  by  the  commander  of  each  brigade. 

Commanding  officers  will  enjoin  upon  their  commands,  that  under 
no  circumstances  are  they  to  throw  off,  or  away,  any  of  their  arms 
or  equipments. 

Light  marching  order  will  be  understood  to  mean  without  blank 
ets,  and  with  overcoats,  the  latter  to  be  slung,  or  worn  at  the 
option  of  the  commanding  officer. 

Forty  rounds  of  ball  cartridges  will  be  dealt  out  to  each  man 
when  the  fleet  is  fairly  under  wa}'. 

The  guns,  with  cannoniers,  ammunition,  and  all  necessary  ap 
purtenances,  will  be  landed  with  the  first  detachment  from  each 
vessel. 

By  order  of  Brig.  Gen'l, 

J.  G.  FOSTER. 

SOUTHARD  HOFFMAN,  Asst.  Adj.  Gen'L 

At  the  appointed  hour,  the  5th  of  February,  with  military 
precision,  the  vessels  moved  in  the  places  assigned,  and 
sighted  the  mainland  about  one  o'clock  P.M.  The  day  was 
in  delightful  contrast  with  those  of  stormy  Hatteras,  for 
during  our  twenty -three  days'  stay  at  that  place,  only  one 
had  proved  sunny  and  pleasant.  If  ever  our  country  in  a 
paroxysm  of  wrath,  should  desire  a  penal  colony  for  the  pun- 


THE    FLEET    TJXDEK    WAY.  55 

ishment  of  criminals, — some  Siberia  or  Botany  Bay,  where 
the  roar  of  waters  from  headlong  heights  howl  and  hiss  in 
endless  torture,  — there  is  no  place  on  the  globe  better  fitted 
for  it  than  Hatteras.  Here  the  elements  are  at  constant  war, 
and  the  sun  seldom  shines.  The  wail  of  winds  and  ceaseless 
battle  of  waves  against  the  strands,  would  be  constant  re 
minders  of  the  nation's  anathemas  against  crime.  Let  the 
bandits  of  treason  and  raving  Guiteaus  be  banished  to  this 
strand ;  let  them  be  restricted  to  a  range  of  twenty  miles 
north  and  south  of  this  windy  gorge,  and  there,  for  the  rest 
of  their  lives,  dig  clams  and  fight  mosquitoes  ;  and  injured 
justice  would  be  amply  satisfied. 

Our  fleet  now  in  motion,  and  the  inertia  of  idleness  broken, 
we  awaited  the  future  with  high  anticipations.  During  the 
day  we  basked  in  the  sun,  or  climbed  the  rigging  to  scan  the 
shores  now  closing  in  upon  either  side.  At  eight  o'clock  we 
anchored  for  the  night  about  fifteen  miles  from  Roanoke 
Marsh  Li^ht.  Under  a  threatening  sky  we  resumed  our 
voyage  the  morning  of  the  (5th,  but  a  heavy  rain  and  fog 
again  forced  us  to  anchor.  In  the  afternoon  the  troops  upon 
the  armed  propellers  were  moved  to  other  vessels,  Company 
D  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  remaining  on  board  the  "  Ranger" 
to  man  its  guns.  This  company,  while  at  Hatteras,  had  been 
drilled  in  the  artillery  service  by  Lieut.  Dennison,  the  arma 
ment  of  the  "Ranger"  furnishing  needed  material  and 
opportunity. 

The  dawn  of  the  7th  revealed  a  clear  sky,  and  after 
months  of  preparation  and  vexatious  delay,  we  at  last  saw 
the  day  so  anxiously  looked  for,  a  day  which  compensated 
for  all  the  past  by  its  glorious  opportunities. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  fleet  was  signalled  under  way,  and  each 
vessel  speedily  took  its  place  in  line.  Quietly,  grandly,  it 
moved  forward  in  double  column,  not  a  breath  or  sound 
stirring  the  morning  air,  while  the  majestic  fleet  of  fifty-five 
vessels,  in  exactness  of  detail,  was  reproduced  in  the  trans- 


56  TWENTY- SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

parent  waters  of  the  sound.  The  morn,  the  fleet,  the  men, 
seemed  inspired  with  victory,  and  moved  forward,  with  the 
battle  half  won  by  their  fearless  and  invincible  spirit.  It 
was  such  a  sight  as  had  never  before  disturbed  the  tranquil 
waters  of  America. 

Entering  Croatan  Sound  by  an  inlet  scarcely  two  hundred 
yards  wide,  and  close  to  the  mainland,  which  is  here  a  boggy 
marsh,  we  sighted  Roanoke  Island  about  five  miles  distant. 
This  island  is  about  fifteen  miles  long,  and  some  six  miles 
wide,  and  is  made  up  of  chaparral  swamps  and  forests,  with 
a  small  amount  of  arable  land  at  its  northern  end.  It  was 
settled  by  an  English  colony  under  Ralph  Lane  as  early  as 
1586,  but  subsequently  all  trace  of  the  colony  was  lost, —  the 
only  further  record  of  them  being  a  tradition  of  the  Hat- 
teras  Indians  about  1700,  that  "  some  of  our  tribe  were  for 
merly  pale  men,  and  could  talk  in  a  book  as  you  do."  Near 
the  north  end  and  just  in  the  rear  of  the  place  of  our  biv 
ouac  the  night  of  February  8th,  is  the  site  of  a  small  fort 
constructed  by  these  colonists.  Its  outlines  are  yet  quite 
distinct,  though  broken  and  trenched  upon  by  trees  of  consid 
erable  size,  and  buried  in  the  surrounding  forest.  The  island 
contains  a  population  of  six  hundred,  and  gave  only  two 
votes  in  favor  of  the  ordinance  of  secession.  It  is  separated 
from  the  mainland  by  a  body  of  water  three  and  a  half  miles 
wide,  known  as  Croatan  Sound ;  and  from  the  sand-banks 
of  Nag's  Head,  along  the  Atlantic,  by  Roanoke  Sound, 
a  body  of  water  about  two  miles  wide,  but  so  shallow  as 
to  be  unnavigable  save  for  crafts  of  very  light  draught. 

The  strategic  value  of  the  position  was  its  safety  as  a  base 
of  operations  ;  its  control  of  the  Albemarle  Sound  and  its 
immense  water-courses ;  and  the  fact  that  from  thence  a 
small  force  could  easily  penetrate  the  State  in  many  direc 
tions,  necessitating  a  considerable  force  at  each  of  the 
threatened  points  to  insure  safety. 

Its  defences  consisted  of  Fort  Bartow,  below  the  blockade, 


DEFENCES    OF   ROANOKE    ISLAND.  57 

with  eight  thirty-two  pounders  (smooth),  and  one  one- hun 
dred  pounder  rifled  gun  ;  three  guns  were  mounted  en  bar 
bette,  and  the  remainder  in  embrasures.  This  fort  was  garri 
soned  by  a  battalion  of  the  Seventeenth  North  Carolina, 
under  Maj.  G.  H.  Hill.  About  half  a  mile  above  was  a 
blockade  of  pile  and  sunken  vessels,  extending  from  the  island 
across  Croat  an  Sound  to  Redstone  Point  on  the  mainland, 
at  which  place  was  Robb's  Fishing  Battery,  mounting  six 
guns,  thirty-twos,  in  embrasure. 

To  protect  the  blockade  was  Fort  Blanchard,  situated  a 
mile-and  a  half  above  on  the  island,  and  mounting  four  thirty- 
twos,  en  barbette.  Half  a  mile  further  north,  at  Weir's  Point, 
was  Fort  Hnger,  the  main  defence  of  Croatan  Channel.  The 
armament  of  this  fort  consisted  of  two  one-hundred  pound 
ers,  rifled,  en  barbette,  and  ten  thirty-two  pounders,  smooth 
bore,  in  embrasure;  and  was  by  far  the  most  formidable 
work  on  the  island.  In  addition  to  these  batteries  in  de 
fence  of  the  sound,  were  the  rebel  steamers  "  Sea  Bird,1' 
"  Beaufort,"  "Forrest,"  "  Curlew,"  "  Powhattan,"  "  Ellis," 
"  Emily  "  and  "  Fanny,"  two  guns  each  ;  and  the  "  Raleigh" 
and  "  Cora,"  one  gun  each;  —  a  naval  fleet  of  ten  vessels, 
mounting  eighteen  guns,  rive  of  which  were  rifled.  The 
island's  interior  defences  consisted  of  Fort  Defiance  and  an 
entrenched  camp  supported  by  the  following  organizations  : — 

Eighth  Regiment  North  Carolina  Inf  y,  Col.  H.  M.  Shaw. 
Seventeenth  Regiment  North  Carolina  Inf  '3',  Maj.  G.  H.  Hill. 
Thirty-first  Regiment  North  Carolina  Inf'y,  Col.  L.  V.  Jordan. 
Fifty-ninth  Regiment  Virginia  Inf'y,  alias  "Wise  Legion,"  alias 
"Richmond  Blues,"  Col.  Anderson. 

The  whole  was  under  the  command  of  Henry  A.  Wise,  a 
former  governor  of  Virginia,  and  the  official  executioner  of 
John  Brown. 

Entering  Croatan  Sound,  the  water  defences,  as  described, 
lay  before  us,  with  the  rebel  fleet  moving  along  under  cover 


58  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

of  their  forts.  As  our  navy  advanced,  Commodore  Golds- 
bo rough  hoisted  from  the  "  Southfield "  the  memorable 

O 

words  of  Kelson  at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  "  Our  country 
expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty  "  to-day  !  The  steamer 
"  Underwriter"  had  the  advance,  and  at  11.45  A.M.,  a  shot 
from  her  eighty-pounder  rifled  gun,  followed  by  others  from 
the  "  Southtield,"  opened  the  sanguinary  conflict.  Ten  min 
utes  later  our  fleet  had  reached  close  range  of  Fort  Bartow, 
and  two  guns  from  her  armament  responded  to  our  attack. 

The  transports,  laden  with  troops,  anchored  in  the  main 
land  channel  in  full  view,  but  three  miles  distant  from  the 
conflict.  As  soon  as  the  first  gun  announced  the  opening  of 
the  contest,  there  was  a  scramble  for  spars,  riggings,  bow 
sprits  and  masts,  or  any  elevated  place  where  a  hold  could 
be  obtained  ;  and  every  vessel,  from  deck  to  highest  peak, 
was  covered  with  soldiers,  anxious  for  the  most  advantageous 
position  from  which  to  view  the  conflict.  Those  who  could 
find  no  place  above,  crowded  the  starboard,  until  every  ves-. 
sel  leaned  heavily  towards  the  island  ;  and  as  our  ponderous 
shot  and  shell  sent  columns  of  water  and  dirt  above  the 
vaunting  rebel  flag,  cheers  from  the  troops  well-nigh 
drowned  the  sound  of  strife.  At  noon  both  forces  had  be 
come  fully  engaged,  our  navy  sailing  back  and  forth  before 
Fort  Bartow,  and  giving  the  rebel  fleet  a  shotted  salute  as  they 
turned  to  repeat  their  compliments  to  the  fort.  The  smoke 
of  conflict  rolled  along  the  waters,  hiding  the  contestants  in 
sulphurous  clouds,  through  the  rifts  of  which  our  fleet  de 
livered  an  effective  fire  on  the  enemy's  fort,  but  presented  an 
ever-shifting  object  for  their  guns.  The  sloop  "Granite" 
literally  "  sailed  in,"  and  with  provoking  coolness  tacked 
back  and  forth  close  to  the  rebel  forts,  delivering  compli 
ments  from  her  one-hundred  pound  rifled  Parrott.  Her 
gun  was  plainly  distinguished  above  the  furious  contest,  and 
seemed  to  fairly  lift  her  from  the  water.  At  one  o'clock  a 
dense  volume  of  smoke  ascending  from  the  barracks  in  Fort 


THE    LANDING.  59 

Bartow,  perceptibly  slackened  the  enemy's  fire,  while  our 
forces  redoubled  their  energies.  Again  the  contest  deepened 
with  an  uninterrupted  roar  of  artillery  ;  and  from  the  sul 
phurous  cloud  enveloping  the  fort,  geysers,  or  shoot  ing  col 
umns  of  water  and  dirt  were  constantly  rising  far  above  the 
tops  of  the  highest  trees. 

At  three  o'clock  the  enemy's  fire  had  notably  slackened, 
and  signals  were  given  for  the  infantry  to  land. 

The  "Wheelbarrow"  (steamer  "  Union")  steamed  along 
side  the  "  Recruit,"  to  receive  the  left  wing  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment,  but  Lieut.  Spaulding  and  crew,  who  had 
been  anxiously  awaiting  the  signal,  received  a  portion  of  our 
color  company  (K)  into  their  launch,  and  with  Major  Bar 
tholomew  hastily  struck  for  the  island. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  thought  of  but  duty,  and  a  multi 
tude  of  small  boats  were  seen  struggling  furiously  for  the 
honor  of  first  landing  on  the  hostile  soil.  The  gunboats 
"  Delaware  "  and  "  Morse  "  were  shelling  the  shore  half  a 
mile  above  Ashby's  Harbor,  at  a  place  known  as  "  Widow 
Baum  Point,"  towards  which  our  boats  were  all  centering  for 
a  landing.  By  keeping  to  the  windward  and  clear  of  the 
s I  niggling  boats,  Lieut.  Spaulding  and  his  muscular  crew 
distanced  their  competitors,  and  first  reached  the  "  sacred 
swale."  Major  Bartholomew  jumped  into  the  grassy  marsh, 
followed  by  the  boys  of  Company  K,  and  waded  to  a  slight 
elevation,  on  which  stood  the  Hannon  house,  surrounded  by 
arable  ground  sufficient  for  a  bivouac  for  our  forces.  They 
were  just  far  enough  ahead  to  say  "  first,"  for  in  a  few 
moments  three  thousand  men  had  struggled  through  the 
swale  and  were  forming  in  line  at  their  side.  The  enemy 
had  hoped  we  would  have  landed  further  south,  and  had  pro 
vided  a  two-gun  masked  battery  for  our  reception  ;  but  this 
we  declined,  preferring  to  wade  the  jungle  of  our  landing,  to 
receiving  their  complimentary  fire  of  shell  and  shrapnel. 
Those  who  landed  from  larger  crafts  were  obliged  to  wade 


60  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

some  distance  in  water,  as  the  vessels  were  stuck  in  the  mud 
before  reaching  the  marsh. 

Soon  after  landing,  the  glare  of  bayonets  moving  along  the 
edge  of  the  Woods  skirting  our  position  was  discovered  ;  but 
if  the  enemy  had  serious  intentions,  a  few  well-directed  guns 
from  the  "  Delaware  "  interfered  with  their  plans,  for  they 
hastily  disappeared.  The  only  disturbance  for  the  night  was 
an  occasional  exchange  of  shots  along  the  picket  line. 

During  the  evening  a  drizzling  north-east  rain  having  set 
in,  the  fires  of  our  bivouac  added  little  to  our  comfort. 
The  smoke  found  only  one  avenue  of  escape,  and  that  di 
rectly  in  our  faces,  no  matter  how  often  we  changed  posi 
tion.  The  ground  on  which  we  bivouacked  had  been  culti 
vated  the  previous  season,  and  by  rain  and  tread  of  feet  soon 
became  a  sticky  mud,  and  while  impossible  to  lie  down,  it 
was  almost  as  uncomfortable  to  stand.  Any  one  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  who  served  in  North  Carolina, 
will  be  willing  to  attest  that  under  the  most  favorable  cir 
cumstances,  the  soil  of  North  Carolina,  wherever  we  bivou 
acked,  was  several  degrees  sofier  than  that  of  any  other  State 
in  the  Union,  and  that  during  rain  storms  it  was  simply  in 
describable.  To  crown  the  misfortune  of  the  night,  we^  were 
without  rubber  or  woollen  blankets,  or  shelter  from  the  chill 
ing  rain.  By  midnight,  all  the  force  had  been  landed  (ex 
cept  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  which  was  aground  near 
Roanoke  Marsh  Light)  and  the  field  presented  a  mass  of 
bivouac  fires  veiled  in  mist. 

Light  dawned  tardily  Feb.  8th,  and  it  was  seven  and  one- 
half  o'clock  before  the  column  was  ready  to  move.  At  that 
time  Foster's  Brigade  moved  into  the  pines,  following  a 
secluded  cart-path.  The  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  held  the  ad 
vance,  followed  in  order  by  the  Twenty-Third  and  Twenty- 
Seventh  Massachusetts  and  Tenth  Connecticut  Regiments. 
The  road  was  a  muddy  pulp,  and  to  reach  the  enemy's  posi 
tion  required  the  fording  of  a  stream  waist  deep.  On  either 


FIRST    BATTLE-FIELD.  Gl 

side  of  the  way  was  a  dense  chaparral,  filled  with  stagnant 
pools  and  thickets  of  sweet  brier.     The  dripping  trees, 

"  Grieving,  if  aught  inanimate  e'er  grieves," 

wept  woefully  as   we  pressed  onward  toward  the  field  of 
contest. 

As  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  entered  an  open  field,  they 
received  a  raking  fire  of  canister  and  shell  from  a  masked 
three-gun  battery,  which  they  gallantly  engaged,  and  hear 
ing  which,  the  Twenty-Seventh  moved  at  double  quick  to 
their  support.  Reaching  the  scene,  we  were  ordered  to 
follow  the  Twenty-Third  Mass,  to  the  right  of  the  field,  but 
were  obliged  to  halt  under  the  converging  fire  of  the  enemy's 
guns  upon  entering  the  field,  until  the  former  regiment  could 
move  out  of  the  way.  While  here,  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman's  hat 
was  knocked  off'  by  an  exploding  shell;  First  Sergt.  Pliny 
Wood  received  a  painful  wound  in  the  elbow  and  side,  while 
Private  Lcvi  Clark,  standing  by  Col.  Lee,  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  abdomen.  The  mangled  and  dead  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  were  borne  along  our  line.  One  poor 
fellow,  with  a  limb  shattered  by  a  solid  shot,  shouted,  with 
a  husky  voice,  as  he  was  carried  by,  "Go  in  Twenty- 
Seventh!  Give  'em  h— 1!  They've  laid  me  up,  or  I'd  he 
with  you  !  "  It  was  an  ordeal  which  tried  the  regiment 
more  than  mortal  combat,  and  certainly  was  not  ailculated  to 
inspire  one  with  confidence  in  offering  himself  as  a  "  short 
stop  "  for  balls  of  such  a  character. 

The  field  was  about  two  hundred  yards  wide  and  three 
hundred  yards  long,  on  the  north  of  which  was  a  masked 
curvette,  known  by  the  enemy  as  Fort  Defiance.  The  fort 
was  pierced  for  three  guns,  and  was  sufficient  for  the 
economical  operations  and  protection  of  five  hundred 
men.  The  armament  consisted  of  a  twenty-four  pound 
Dahlgren  howitzer,  and  one  each  of  eighteen  and  twelve 
pound  field-pieces.  A  battalion  of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Virginia 


62  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Regiment  (Richmond  Blues),  and  a  part  of  the  Thirty- 
First  North  Carolina  Regiment,  occupied  the  fort ;  the 
remainder  of  their  force  being  under  cover  of  a  boscage 
of  trees  and  briers  to  the  left.  The  strength  of  the  posi 
tion  was  in  th,e  chaparral  swamps  and  forests  which  cov 
ered  its  flanks,  and  the  deep  morass  on  its  front;  the  only 
approach  being  by  a  corduroy  road  swept  by  the  guns  of  the 
battery.  These  swamps  were  considered  impervious,  so 
much  so  that  the  enemy  declared  a  rabbit  had  never  pen 
etrated  them;  while  the  Wilmington  (N.  C.)  "Journal," 
commenting  on  the  position,  said,  "A hundred  men  could 
easily  hold  one  thousand  at  bay."  The  battle-field  was  a 
deep  morass,  save  a  small  knoll  "at  the  rear  and  centre  ;  and 
this  position  was  occupied  by  six  marine  howitzers,  under 
command  of  Midshipman  B.  F.  Porter.  It  was  here,  after 
the  gunners  had  all  been  slain,  Chaplain  Horace  James, 
of  the  Twenty -Fifth  Mass.,  earned  his  sobriquet,  "The 
Fighting  Chaplain,"  by  manning  the  guns  and  rendering 
effective  service  during  the  remainder  of  the  engagement. 

Moving  across  this  field,  we  sank  to  our  knees  in  mad, 
which,  though  uncomfortable,  relieved  us  of  a  greater  mis 
fortune  by  allowing  the  enemy's  shots  to  pass  harmlessly 
over  our  heads.  The  contracted  field  not  allowing  our  de 
ploying  in  line  of  battle,  we  wheeled  and  fired  by  companies, 
which  so  aimoyed  the  enemy  as  to  lead  them  to  concentrate 
their  artillery  upon  us.  We  were  directly  opposed  by  the 
"Richmond  Blues,"  who,  after  capture,  acknowledged  the 
effectiveness  of  our  fire.  The  battle  was  now  at  its  height, — 
shell,  shot  and  canister  sweeping  the  ground  and  crashing 
through  the  forest  in  our  rear;  while  the  number  of  mangled 
and  bleeding  comrades  taxed  the  utmost  capacity  of  the 
ambulance  and  stretcher  corps  in  removing  them  from  the 
field.  The  Twenty-Fifth  Mass. ,  which  had  borne  the  brunt  of 
battle  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  with  a  loss  of  six  killed  and 
forty-two  wounded,  with  exhausted  ammunition,  were  now 


FLANKING   FORT    DEFIANCE.  63 

relieved  by  the  Tenth  Conn.  These  had  held  the  position 
but  a  short  time  when  their  gallant  commander,  Col.  Charles 
L.  Russell,  fell  dead  upon  the  field.  The  Ninth  New  York 
(Hawkins's  Zouaves)  formed  at  their  right.  Near  them 
was  Lieut.  Col.  Victor  De  Monteil,  of  the  Fifty-Third  New 
York  (De  Epinueil  Zouaves),  who  had  volunteered  for  this 
occasion,  his  own  regiment  having  been  returned  to  Fortress 
Monroe  for  insubordination.  With  musket  in  hand,  near  the 
right  of  the  Ninth  New  York,  he  was  cooly  loading,  firing, 
and  watching  the  effect  of  each  shot,  when  he  was  killed  by 
a  sharpshooter. 

At  ten  o'clock  orders  were  received  for  the  Twenty-Seventh 
and  Twenty-Third  Mass,  to  flank  the  enemy's  position  to  the 
right,  while  the  Twenty-Fir^t  Mass,  and  Fifty-First  New 
York,  which  had  taken  positions  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
field,  were  ordered  to  flank  it  on  the  left.  For  an  hour  the 
Twenty-Seventh  was  edging  its  way  through  briers  and 
underbrush,  the  officers  slashing  with  swords,  the  men  break 
ing  and  treading  upon  the  brush  for  a  footing;  sometimes 
clinging  to  clumps  of  brush  to  buoy  them  up,  at  others  so 
deep  in  mire  as  to  need  assistance  to  extricate  themselves. 
Reaching  the  edge  of  the  woods  at  the  left  and  rear  of  the 
enemy's  works,  a  sheet  of  water  fifty  yards  wide  lay  between 
us  and  the  fort;  but  the  order  was,  "Forward!"  and, 
with  muskets  and  cartridge-boxes  raised  above  our  heads, 
we  plunged  into  the  land-locked  waters,  finding  them  waist- 
deep  at  the  centre.  As  we  emerged  from  the  woods  we 
were  discovered  by  the  enemy,  who  at  that  time  were  busily 
engaged  in  an  attempt  to  repulse  the  advance  of  our  force  on 
the  opposite  flank.  This  discovery  spread  consternation 
in  their  ranks,  and  they  broke  into  a  precipitate  retreat. 

A  Richmond  correspondent  describing  this  battle,  said  : 
"Provision  had  been  made,  in  case  of  defeat,  to  retreat  back 
of  Shallowbag  Bay  and  cross  to  Nag's  Head  from  that  point ; 
but  a  body  of  Yankees  appeared  on  the  left  flank  just  before 


64  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

retreat,  cutting  us  off  from  all  chance  of  escape."  This  body 
of  Yankees  was  the  Twenty-Seventh  and  Twenty-Third  Massa 
chusetts  Regiments. 

The  Twenty- First  Mass,  and  Fifty-First  New  York,  with 
less  natural  obstructions  to  contend  with,  were  at  close  quar 
ters  with  the  fort  as  we  cleared  the  woods,  and  as  we  reached 
the  centre  of  the  pond,  mounted  its  parapets  and  planted 
their  colors  on  the  works ;  while  the  Twenty- Fifth  Mass., 
followed  by  the  Ninth  New  York,  moved  down  the  corduroy 
road  and  reached  the  fort  about  the  same  time  as  the  Twen 
ty-Seventh.  So  precipitate  was  the  enemy's  retreat  that 
they  left  their  dead  and  wounded  in  our  hands,  beside  the 
armament  of  the  fort,  with  caissons  and  munitions  com 
plete. 

Gen'l  Reno,  with  a  part  of  his  brigade,  followed  the  re 
treating  foe,  while  Foster's  forces  rested  upon  the  field, 
gathering  trophies,  or  relieving  their  clothes  of  their  super 
abundance  of  water  and  mud.  Soon  a  courier  arrived,  and 
giving  Gen'l  Foster  a  small  black  horse,  said,  "The  rebels  are 
attempting  to  escape  to  Nag's  Head,  and  Gen'l  Reno  desires 
assistance."  The  Twenty-Seventh  was  immediately  ordered 
to  Gen'l  Reno's  aid,  followed  by  the  Fifty-First  New  York, 
and  other  regiments. 

On  arriving  at  the  point  indicated,  we  found  the  enemy's 
plan  had  been  frustrated.  O.  Jennings  Wise,  of  the  Rich 
mond  Blues,  a  son  of  ex-Governor  Wise,  in  attempting  to 
escape  by  boat,  had  been  mortally  wounded,  and  was  lying 
in  a  small  house  near  by.  Surgeon  Otis,  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.,  during  a  residence  at  Richmond  previous  to 
the  war,  had  become  well  acquainted  with  young  Wise,  and 
was  now  invited  to  see  him,  with  the  information,  "He 
can't  live  but  a  few  minutes  !  "  Our  Surgeon  replied,  "  No  ! 
he  would  know  me  in  a  minute ;  as  I  can't  help,  I  won't 
disturb  him  ! " 

Leaving  Gen'l  Reno  at  this  point,  Gen'l  Foster,  with  his 


THE    SURRENDER.  65 

brigade,  pushed  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  towards  the 
north  end  of  the  island.  The  Twenty-Fourth  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  which  had  now  arrived,  was  given  the  advance, 
and  after  a  hard  march  we  came  upon  the  enemy  a  short  dis 
tance  to  the  rear  of  Fort  Huger.  As  we  were  preparing  for 
an  assault,  Lieut.  Col.  D.  G.  Fowl,  of  the  Thirty-First  North 
Carolina,  appeared  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  was  shown  to 
Gen'l  Foster,  when  this  colloquy  ensued  : 

"  COL.  F.  I  came,  sir,  to  ask  what  terms  of  capitulation 
you  will  grant  our  army  ?  " 

"  GEN'L  F.  None  whatever,  sir  !  Nothing  but  immediate 
and  unconditional  surrender  !  " 

"  COL.  F.  How  much  time  will  you  grant  for  its  consider 
ation?" 

"  GEN'L  F.  Only  sufficient  for  an  immediate  return  with 
your  commander's  decision  !  " 

After  some  delay,  well-nigh  resulting  in  an  assault  by  us, 
Col.  H.  M.  Shaw,  of  the  Eighth  North  Carolina,  appeared 
and  surrendered  Roanoke  Island,  with  its  forces  and  de 
fences.  Well,  yes  !  I  have  heard  of  enthusiasm,  cheers, 
and  "tigers,"  but  they  do  not  begin  to  express  the  joy  that 
thrilled  and  echoed  in  the  surrounding  forests,  and  awoke 
sleepy,  boggy  old  Roanoke  to  an  inspiration  it  had  never 
dreamed  of  before ;  have  known  of  enthused  life,  but  never 
saw  sedate  manhood  given  over  to  the  exuberance  of  child 
hood,  with  as  many  standing  on  heads  as  feet ;  never  saw  a 
hug  culminate  in  a  wrestle,  or  a  line  of  soldiers  turned  into 
a  crowd  of  Cochins  gone  mad.  It  was  all  there,  and  even 
more ;  so  much  so  that  Col.  Lee  never  gave  the  order, 
"Attention  !  "  under  more  difficult  circumstances.  We  had 
thought  we  felt  tired,  wet  and  stiff,  but  this  must  have  been 
some  vague  aberration  of  the  mind,  for  we  now  moved  for 
ward,  "light  as  feathers,"  and  were  soon  in  line  on  the 
north  of  Camp  Georgia,  at  which  point  the  enemy  had  con 
centrated.  The  other  regiments  of  Foster's  Brigade  came 


66  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

forward  and  completed  the  investment,  when  nineteen  hun 
dred  and  ninety-eight  men  surrendered  themselves  as  "pris 
oners  of  war  at  this  point." 

After  the  close  of  the  battle,  but  before  the  result  was 
known  at  Fort  Huger,  a  schooner  from  Elizabeth  City  landed 
Col.  J.  Wharton  Green  and  five  hundred  of  the  Second 
North  Carolina  Kegiment  on  the  upper  side  of  Weir's  Point. 
The  schooner  soon  after  obtained  information  of  the  defeat 
of  the  Confederates,  and,  considering  discretion  the  better 
part  of  valor,  decamped  without  consulting  Col.  Green. 
This  reinforcement  fell  into  our  hands,  without  having  had  an 
opportunity  to  fire  their  guns ;  and  though  the  Colonel  was 
excusable  for  not  enjoying  it,  ho  made  as  graceful  a  sur 
render  as  the  circumstances  would  warrant. 

The  prisoners,  as  a  whole  were  warmly  clad,  but  in  a 
variety  of  costumes,  colors,  and  equipments,  exceeding  that 
of  Falstaff's  famous  recruits.  Their  arms  consisted  of  En- 
field  and  sporting  rifles,  Springfield  and  Harper's  Ferry 
muskets,  double  and  single  barrel  hunting-pieces,  cap  and 
flint  locks,  with  as  varied  accoutrements.  After  stacking 
arms  on  our  front,  and  a  formal  surrender,  they  were  (out 
rageously?)  marched  to  their  barracks,  and  the  Twenty- 
Third  Mass.  Eegt.  duly  installed  as  provost-guard  over  the 
camp.  The  Twenty-Seventh  marched  back  to  an  adjoining 
plantation,  where  a  few  of  our  number  secured  shelter  in  the 
house  or  out-buildings,  but  most  of  the  regiment  lay  down 
without  blanket  or  shelter,  with  clothes  still  wet  from  the  ex 
posure  and  service  of  the  day  and  night  previous.  With  the 
consciousness  of  a  faithful  performance  of  duty,  we  accepted 
the  hardship  and  exposure  incident  to  our  lot.  The  news 
of  this  victory  was  received  at  the  North  with  devout  grati 
tude,  and  it  proved  worthy  of  record  with  that  of  Fort 
McHenry,  which  occurred  two  days  earlier,  and  that  of  Fort 
Donaldson,  occurring  four  days  later. 

The  results  of  the  day  had  been  the  capture  of  twenty-five 


KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.  67 

hundred  and  twenty-seven  prisoners,  thirty-five  hundred 
stand  of  arms,  five  forts,  with  an  armament  of  thirty-two 
guns,  beside  an  immense  quantity  of  ammunition  and  quar 
termasters'  stores.  The  Twenty-Seventh  captured  two  rebel 
flags,  each  three  and  one-half  by  six  feet  in  dimension,  with 
one  white  and  two  red  bars.  One  contained  twelve  stars 
in  a  blue  field,  surrounding  a  sickly  representation  of  an 
eagle,  with  the  inscription,  "  Brown  Mountain  Boys, 
Stokes  County,  N.  C."  The  other  was  similar  in  design, 
except  that  it  had  only  ten  stars  in  the  constellation.  This 
was  a  recognition  of  the  fact  that  Kentucky  and  Missouri 
were  not  to  join  them,  or,  perhaps,  that  on  their  finely- 
wrought  "ship  of  state"  decay  had  already  taken  place. 
While  reckoning  these  results,  a  lurid  glare  lit  the  sky,  fol 
lowed  by  a  terrible  concussion,  and  the  fort  on  the  mainland 
opposite,  with  the  disabled  steamer  "Curlew,"  were  hurled 
into  the  air,  a  shapeless  mass. 

The  Confederate  loss  in  this  engagement,  as  reported  by 
Lieut.  Col.  Fowl  to  the  "Wilmington  Journal,"  was  twenty- 
two  killed  and  thirty-six  Avounded,  but  which  we  think  is  an 
understatement.  It  was  reported  at  the  time  thirty  killed 
and  ninety-three  wounded. 

The  Union  loss  was  fifty  killed  and  two  hundred  twenty- 
two  wounded,  including  both  army  and  navy. 

The  loss  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  was  — 

KILLED. 

Private  WILLIAM  HILL,  Athol,  Compaq  B. 
Corp.  GEORGE  M.  HALE,  "Westfield,  Company  F. 
Private  LEVI  CLARK,  Sandisfield,  Company  F. 
Private  HENRY  C.  BARDWELL,  Northampton,  Company  G.     Total,  4. 

WOUNDED. 

Private  Cordean  Sweet,  Hatfleld,  Company  A.  Arm  and  leg. 
Private  George  H.  Whitney,  Dana,  Compan}^  B.  Right  leg. 
Sergt.  Bartholomew  O'Conuell,  Whately,  Company  C.  Elbow. 


68  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Corp.  Otto  L.  Stamm,  Gt.  Barrington,  Compan}*  E.     Hip  ;  fatal. 
Private  George  Duncan,  New  Maryborough,  Company  E.     Fatal. 
Private  Hiram  Sheffield,  Lee,  Company  E.     Fatal. 
Private  Cyrus  Agans,  Mt.  Washington,  Company  E.     Slight, 
First  Sergt.  Pliny  Wood,  Westficld,  Company  F.     Elbow  and  side. 
Corp.  Isaac  Hunt,  Belchertown,  Company  G.     Fingers. 
Private  Charles  L.  Clark,  Wilbraham,  Company  I.     Throat ;  severe. 
Private  Martin  Kell}',  New  York,  Company  K.    Fingers.     Total,  1 1 . 

Corporal  George  M.  Hale  was  a  native  of  Tolltind,  twonty- 
one  years  of  age,  and  of  unusual  promise.  The  last  lines  in 
his  diary,  written  evidently  just  previous  to  the  battle,  were  : 

"  We  are  born,  we  live,  we  love,  we  die. 
Why  were  we  born  to  live,  to  love,  to  die  ? 
Who  can  answer  the  secret  deep?     Alas,  not  I." 

Levi  Clark,  the  first  man  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  to  fall  on 
the  field  of  battle,  was  a  native  of  Sandisfield,  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  jovial,  kind-hearted  young  man, 
faithful  and  reliable  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  fell  just  as 
we  entered  the  field  of  battle.  Who  can  forget  the  heavy 
thud  of  that  fatal  shot?  A  widowed  mother  and  a  sister 
mourn  his  untimely  death. 

Comrade  Clark  of  Company  I,  was  wounded  by  a  Mexican 
bullet  passing  through  his  neck,  between  the  artery  and 
wind-pipe.  As  this  was  considered  fatal,  the  wound  was 
dressed  by  simply  filling  it  with  lint,  and  his  name  was 
placed  among  the  dead.  His  appearance  to  his  company  a 
week  later,  was  a  genuine  surprise.  He  was  granted  an 
indefinite  leave  of  absence,  never  rejoined  his  company  or 
received  a  discharge,  and  still  suffers  disability  from  his 
wound.  As  Patrick  Weal,  of  Company  H,  stood  at  the  posi 
tion  of  "  prime,"  a  bullet  pierced  his  gun-stock  between  the 
barrel  and  rammer,  and  at  the  battle  of  New  Berne,  follow 
ing,  another  bullet  struck  the  same  place. 

During  our  stay  at  Annapolis,  a  person  was  granted  access 


FORAGING.  69 

to  the  camp,  selling  lithographic  company  records.  While 
we  were  resting  at  Fort  Defiance,  a  body  was  found  whose 
features  answered  his  description,  and  were  so  recognized  by 
different  regiments.  Was  he  a  spy? 

Early  the  morning  of  the  9th,  a  number  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  strayed  to  a  ravine  a  short  distance  from  their 
bivouac,  and  returned  laden  with  trophies  of  rifles,  double  and 
single  barrel  guns,  pistols,  swords,  and  "Yankee  stickers;" 
which  proved  to  be  a  part  of  the  effects  of  Col.  Green's  com 
mand.  Finding  themselves  without  means  of  escape,  they 
had  divested  themselves  of  everything  possible,  and  during  the 
entire  morning  the  Twenty-Seventh  .Regiment  reaped  a  rich 
harvest  of  trophies,  many  of  which  were  forwarded  home  by 
first  steamer,  reaching  Springfield  in  season  to  add  zest  to 
the  22d  of  February, —  that  day  having  been  set  apart  by  the 
loyal  North  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  our  national  vic 
tories. 

About  noon,  the  9th,  permission  was  given  the  entire  force 
to  forage  for  the  remainder  of  the  day.  With  rifles  in  hand 
the  troops  invaded  the  remotest  parts  of  the  island,  the 
Minie  balls  chi-ie-ing  from  every  direction,  rendering  life 
about  as  uncertain  as  in  the  contest  of  the  previous  day. 
Soon  the  tide  turned,  and  they  came  marching  back  again 
with  "Hurrah!  Hurrah!"  On  poles  supported  from 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  were  carcases  of  beef,  veal,  pork, 
mutton,  geese,  turkeys,  ducks  and  chickens,  without  regard 
to  their  age  or  condition.  Sweet  potatoes  and  other  roots 
and  vegetables  were  found  buried  in  pits  in  the  fields,  for 
which  sacks  were  constructed  of  overcoats,  and  these  were 
slung  across  the  backs  of  cows,  often  accompanied  by  a  brace 
of  squawking  hens  or  flopping  turkeys  ;  some  came  stagger 
ing  under  loads  that  would  do  credit  to  an  athlete,  or  tugging 
away  at  contrary  hogs,  many  of  which  were  so  poor  as  to 
indicate  the  last  stage  of  consumption.  Where  all  these 


70  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

supplies  were  found,  or  what  many  of  them  were  good  for, 
were  questions  easier  asked  than  answered. 

When  night  enforced  a  truce,  the  sight  before  us  vied  with 
Fulton  or  Faneuil  Hall  Market.  Such  quantities  of  all  con 
ceivable  culinary  supplies,  it  remained  for  this  day,  and  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  as  master  hands,  to  collect. 
For  two  days  the  Twenty-Seventh  settled  down  to  business  ; 
the  flaying  by  amateur  butchers,  and  numberless  fires  of 
coals  —  upon  which  tin  plates  were  serving  as  broiling  irons  — 
showing  they  had  a  taste  for,  and  were  still  prosecuting 
"flank"  movements.  It  was  a  scene  for  an  epicure;  the 
variety  of  dishes  invented  being  sufficient  to  eclipse  Del- 
monico  or  Miss  Parloa,  and,  if  mentioned,  would  excite  a 
resonable  credulity  as  to  success.  Suffice  it  to  say,  if  the 
regiment  lay  down  the  night  previous,  tired,  hungry  and  cold, 
they  were  now  tilled  to  surfeit,  but  without  protection  as  be 
fore.  During  the  night  of  the  10th,  a  white  spread  was  laid 
over  the  exposed  and  sleeping  soldiers,  so  lightly,  many  of 
them  did  not  know  it  had  snowed,  until  they  awoke  in  the 
morning. 

After  the  capture  of  the  island,  Flag  Officer  L.  M.  Golds- 
borough,  learning  that  the  rebel  fleet  had  retired  to  Elizabeth 
City,  despatched  Commander  J.  C.  Rowan  with  thirteen  of 
our  naval  vessels  to  that  point,  with  so  complete  success,  that 
we  append  the  account  as  rendered  by  the  latter :  — 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMER  "  DELAWARE," 

OFF  ELIZABETH  CITY,  Feb.  10,  1862. 

SIR  :  —  I  have  the  happiness  to  report  that  I  met  the  enemy  off 
this  place  this  morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  and  after  a  very  sharp  en 
gagement,  succeeded  in  destroying  or  capturing  his  entire  naval 
force,  and  silencing  and  destroying  his  battery  on  Cobb's  Point. 

The  only  vessel  saved  from  destruction  is  the  "  Ellis,"  Captain 
J.  M.  Cook,  who  is  wounded  and  a  prisoner  on  board  this  ship.  I 
have  other  prisoners. 

I  am  happy  to  say  our  casualties  are  few,  considering  the  warmth 


RETURNING    TO    THE    VESSELS.  71 

of  the  enemy's  fire,  —  say  two  or  three  killed  and  some  wounded. 
I  send  the  "  Ellis"  to  you  under  command  of  Acting  Master  Chase 
of  this  ship,  whom  I  hope  you  will  confirm  in  command. 

The  conduct  of  the  gallant  men  I  have  the  honor  to  command, 
is  worthy  of  all  praise.  I  am  happy  to  say  none  of  our  vessels 
are  severely  injured. 

I  shall  leave  here  a  small  force,  and  visit  the  canals,  and  take  a 
look  into  other  places  before  I  return. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  C.  ROWAN, 

Commander  United  Slates  Xavy. 

The  deed  of  Acting  Master  Chase,  for  which  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  command  of  the  "  Ellis,"  was,  his  sitting  upon 
an  open  barrel  of  powder,  at  a  time  when  the  "  Delaware" 
was  on  fire  from  the  enemy's  shot,  and  thus  saving  the  vessel 
and  its  crew  from  destruction. 

On  account  of  our  lack  of  camp  equipage,  —  all  of  which 
was  lost  while  entering  Ilatteras,  —  orders  were  received 
for  the  regiment  to  re-embark ;  and  after  a  tedious  march  of 
seven  miles  through  muddy  roads,  we  reached  Ashby's 
Harbor  at  noon  of  the  llth.  Here  we  found  twenty-seven 
graves  of  Union  soldiers  who  had  fallen  the  8th ;  also  a 
deserted  two-gun  battery,  which  the  enemy  had  constructed 
to  prevent  landing  at  that  point.  By  night  we  were  in  our 
quarters  on  the  "Ranger"  and  "  Recruit,"  having  been 
absent  four  nights  without  protection,  of  which  three  had 
proved  rainy,  and  the  other  snowy. 

The  next  morning  Col.  Lee  issued  the  following  congratu 
latory  order  to  the  regiment :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  TWENTY-SEVENTH  REOT.  MASS.  VOLS., 

SCHOONER  "  RECRUIT,"  OFF  ROANOKE  ISLAND,  Feb.  12,  1862. 

The  commander  of  the  regiment  takes  this  first  opportunit}'  since 
the  engagement  of  the  8th,  to  congratulate  his  command  upon  its 
successful  termination.  With  feelings  of  pride,  he  looks  upon  the 
coolness,  bravery  and  good  conduct  displayed  by  them  while  pass- 


72  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ing  the  fiery  ordeal  of  a  first  battle.  We  can  go  into  the  next 
action  with  a  feeling  of  strength,  which  —  let  what  will  come  — 
must  give  us  the  victory.  While  dropping  a  tear  for  the  fallen 
brave,  ma}1  we  remember  we  are  in  the  hands  of  an  all-wise  God,  who 
watches  over  and  protects  us,  as  well  on  the  field  as  in  camp  ;  and, 
putting  our  trust  in  Him,  may  we  go  forth  with  stout  hearts  and 
willing  hands,  prepared  to  do  our  duty  wherever  or  whenever  called 
upon. 

By  order, 

COL.  H.  C.  LEE, 

Commanding  Tioenty-Seventh  Regt.  Mass.  Vols. 

GEO.  W.  BARTLETT,  Acljt. 

Among  those  left  sick  upon  the  "Recruit  "on  debarking 
the  7th,  was  Capt.  Hubbard  of  Company  I,  who  had  been 
prostrated  some  four  weeks  with  sickness,  but  with  no  antici 
pation  of  immediate  danger.  On  the  morning  of  the  12th 
his  disease  resulted  in  death. 

CAPTAIN  HENRY  A.  HUBBARD 

was  born  at  Ludlow,  Mass.,  Aug.  25,  1836.  His  father  was 
a  citizen  of  official  prominence  in  that  town,  while  his 
mother  was  a  Brainerd  of  Haddam,  Conn.,  and  near  of  kin 
to  the  missionary  Rev.  David  Brainerd.  The  early  life  of 
Capt.  Hubbard  was  passed  upon  a  farm,  in  which  time  he 
not  only  studiously  improved  his  opportunities  at  the  public 
schools,  but  forced  the  hours  when  employed  in  manual 
lab.tr  to  contribute  to  his  store  of  knowledge.  He  fastened 
his  book  upon  the  plough  and  studied  as  he  turned  the  soil,  or 
left  it  at  a  convenient  nook  in  the  fence  as  he  hoed  the  field, 
grasping  some  new  advance  upon  each  return.  By  teaching 
during  the  winter  he  secured  means  to  prosecute  his  studies 
at  Wilbraham  Wesleyan  Academy,  and  graduated  therefrom 
with  high  honors.  He  continued  his  studies  a  year  at  Am- 
herst  College,  and  afterwards  for  a  time  at  Union  College, 


Captain  HENRY  A.  HUBBARD. 


CAPT.    HENRY    A.    HUBBARD.  73 

Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  but,  deciding  upon  the  legal  profession, 
left  the  latter  and  entered  the  office  of  Beach  &  Bond,  Spring 
field,  Mass.  Poetry  was  his  delight,  Milton's  "  Lycidas  "  his 
favorite ;  and  the  hours  after  his  daily  toil  were  spent  in  close 
companionship  with  the  choicest  of  American  and  English 
poets. 

While  engrossed  with  legal  tomes,  he  united  with  the  Union 
Guard  of  Springfield,  and  soon  became  adept  in  military 
tactics.  Upon  the  opening  of  hostilities  he  rallied  his  Lud- 
low  neighbors  and  friends  and  drilled  them  in  the  "  School 
of  Soldiers,"  preparatory  to  the  call  he  felt  sure  must  come. 
When  the  raising  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was 
authorized,  Col.  Lee  commissioned  him  to  recruit  for  that 
organization,  and  the- filling  of  the  ranks  of  the  Ludlow  com 
pany  so  promptly  was  due  mainly  to  his  zeal  and  magnetism. 
He  was  mustered  as  captain  Oct.  1G,  1861,  and  continued 
with  his  command  until  their  arrival  with  the  Burnside 
Expedition  at  Matte ras  Inlet,  N.  C.  Here  he  contracted  a 
serious  and  prolonged  illness,  from  exposure.  He  remained 
upon  the  schooner  "Recruit,"  and  during  the  battle  of 
Roanoke  Island  Avas  on  Croatan  Sound  just  beyond  reach  of 
the  enemy's  guns.  He  heard  our  first  cheer  of  victory,  but 
died  Feb.  12,  1862,  just  after  the  return  of  the  regiment  to 
the  vessel.  Though  prevented  from  paiticipating  in  battle, 
he  died  as  really  a  martyr  in  his  country's  cause  as  if  he  had 
fallen  amid  the  carnage  of  battle.  His  remains  were  buried 
Avith  military  honors  at  Ludlow,  Mass.,  Feb.  24,  1862,  under 
escort  of  his  old  comrades  of  the  Union  Guard.  October 
16th,  two  Aveeks  previous  to  his  departure  for  the  seat  of  Avar, 
he  was  married  to  Annie,  daughter  of  Deacon  Booth  of  Lud 
low.  His  Avidow  still  survives  him. 

Upon  the  death  of  Capt.  Hubbard,  First  Lieut.  E.  K.  Wil- 
cox  Avas  promoted  to  be  Captain  of  Company  I,  vice  Hubbard 
deceased  ;  Second  Lieut.  C.  W.  Goodale  to  First  Lieutenant, 
vice  Wilcox  promoted,  and  First  Sergt.  J.  W.  LuAvton  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  vice  Goodale  promoted. 


74  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

During  the  remainder  of  our  stay  in  Croatan  Sound  little 
of  interest  occurred  in  the  vicinity.  On  the  13th  a  native 
was  shot,  as  accessory  to  the  death  of  three  of  the  Fifty-First 
New  York,  who  were  found  in  the  swamp  with  their  throats 
cut.  On  the  15th  a  detail  from  our  regiment  was  sent  to 
the  island  to  encircle  it  with  a  telegraph,  successfully  accom 
plishing  their  mission  and  returning  the  17th.  The  18th 
Gen'l  Burnside  and  Com.  Goldsborough  issued  a  joint  procla 
mation  as  follows  :  — 

ROANOKE  ISLAND,  N.  C.,  Feb.  18,  1862. 
To  the  Citizens  of  North  Carolina : 

The  mission  of  our  joint  expedition  is  not  to  invade  any  of  your 
rights,  but  to  assert  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  and  to  close 
with  3*011  the  desolating  war  brought  upon  jour  State  by  compara 
tively  a  few  bad  men  in  your  midst. 

Influenced  infinitely  more  b}*  the  worst  passions  of  human  nature, 
than  by  any  show  of  elevated  reason,  they  are  still  urging  3-011 
astra3*  to  gratify  their  unholy  purposes. 

They  impose  upon  3*0111-  credulit}'  by  telling  3*011  of  wicked,  and 
even  diabolical  intentions  on  our  part ;  of  our  desire  to  destroy 
3*our  freedom,  demolish  3*0111-  property,  liberate  your  slaves,  injure 
3*our  women,  and  such  like  enormities  ;  all  of  which,  we  assure  you, 
is  not  01113*  ridiculous,  but  utterly  and  wilfully  false. 

We  are  Christians  as  well  as  yourselves,  and  we  profess  to  know 
full  well,  and  to  feel  profoundly,  the  sacred  obligations  of  the  char 
acter.  No  apprehensions  need  be  entertained  that  the  demands  of 
hnmanhVv  or  justice  will  be  disregarded.  We  shall  inflict  no 
unless  forced  to  do  so  b3*  3*our  own  acts  ;  and  upon  this  3*ou 
confidently  rel3*. 

Those  men  are  3*0111-  worst  enemies.  The3r,  in  truth,  have  drawn 
you  into  your  present  condition,  and  are  the  real  disturbers  of  3*our 
peace  and  the  happiness  of  3rour  firesides. 

We  invite  you,  in  the  name  of  the  constitution,  and  in  that  of 
virtuous  lo3*aU\y  and  civilization,  to  separate  3*ourselves  at  once 
from  these  malign  influences,  to  return  to  your  allegiance  and  not 
compel  us  to  resort  further  to  the  force  under  our  control. 

The  government  asks  01113*  that  its  authority  may  be  recognized, 


PRISONERS    EXCHANGED.  75 

and  we  repeat  in  no  manner  or  way  does  it  desire  to  interfere  with 
your  laws,  constitutionally  established,  your  institutions  of  any 
kind  whatever,  your  property  of  any  sort,  or  your  usages  in  any 
respect. 

L.    M.    GOLDSBOROUGH, 

Flag  Officer,  Commanding  N.  C.  Blockading  Squadron. 

A.  E.  BURXSIDE, 

Brig.  Gen' I,  Commanding  Department  of  North  Carolina. 

February  14th,  Gen'l  Wool  for  the  Union,  and  Howell 
Cobb  for  the  rebels,  agreed  upon  a  cartel  by  which  prisoners 
in  the  hands  of  either  party  were  to  be  exchanged ;  any  sur 
plus,  and  such  as  should  be  captured  in  the  future,  to  be  re 
leased  at  once  upon  parole.  February  18th,  in  compliance 
with  this  agreement,  the  prisoners  captured  by  us  were  con 
veyed  by  the  steamers  "Cossack"  and  "New  York"  to 
Elizabeth  City,  where  they  were  received  by  a  body  of 
Georgia  troops  with  such  scorn  and  neglect,  as  to  necessitate 
the  issuing  of  rations  to  them  by  our  vessels,  to  save  them 
from  suffering  until  they  could  provide  for  themselves. 
Jefferson  Davis  finding  that  "  pirates  "  captured  on  vessels 
sailing  under  "letters  of  marque "  from  him  were  not  re 
garded  as  prisoners  of  war  by  us,  abrogated  the  cartel,  and 
oiTbred  these  prisoners  to  report  at  once  for  duty  to  their 
respective  regiments.  It  was  a  duplicity  characterizing  all 
his  dealings,  destroying  the  little  confidence  entertained  for 
his  honor  in  this  country,  and  ending  in  an  obloquy  as  wide 
spread  as  his  name. 

By  long  confinement  on  the  vessels  the  health  of  the  regi 
ment  was  considerably  impaired,  typhoid  fever  and  kindred 
diseases  being  quite  prevalent ;  but  as  a  movement  was  im 
minent,  we  were  retained  on  board  the  vessels.  Some  com 
panies  went  ashore  from  the  "  Ranger"  for  drill,  from  time 
to  time,  the  remainder  relieving  the  tediousness  of  confine 
ment  in  writing,  games  and  phrenological  examinations,  the 
latter  of  which  became  quite  a  profession.  Amateur  clubs  of 


76  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

chess  and  chequer  players  were  organized,  who  acquired  a 
proficiency  that  would  have  taxed  the  best  of  skill  at  home. 
Large  numbers  who  had  been  left  sick  at  Annapolis  and 
Hatteras  rejoined  the  regiment  February  27th,  increasing  its 
effective  strength  to  about  eight  hundred  men. 

Our  brilliant  success  had  produced  a  most  depressing 
effect  upon  the  enemy.  To  quote  from  their  papers  :  "It  has 
placed  in  the  enemy's  hands  the  '  back-door  key '  to  Norfolk 
and  Richmond ;  threatened  the  great  through  route  from 
Richmond  south  at  Welden  ;  and  opened  the  great  State  of 
North  Carplina  to  the  merciless  grasp  of  maudlin  invaders. 
It  was  criminal  carelessness  that  left  an  entire  army  at 
Roanoke  Island,  to  be  slain  and  captured  by  Burnside's 
horde  of  outlaws  ;  but  it  was  doubly  criminal  to  have  left 
their  firesides  exposed  to  Yankee  treachery."  Each  menaced 
point  was  sure  their  position  was  next  to  be  assailed,  and 
North  Carolina  called  vigorously  upon  the  Confederate 
government  to  return  its  veteran  troops  for  the  defence  of 
their  own  firesides.  To  add  to  their  fears,  harmless  sallies 
were  made  by  portions  of  our  fleet  in  various  directions  in 
the  Albennarle  Sound,  as  though  reconnoitring  for  a  general 
advance ;  now  threatening  one  port,  now  landing  at  another ; 
until  the  confused  enemy  magnified  our  force  to  an  army 
sufficient  to  occupy  the  entire  State. 


NEW    BEKNE.  77 


CHAPTER   V. 

NEW    BERNE. 

EARLY  in  March,  all  the  forces  on  Roanoke  Island,  save  the 
Ninth  and  Eighty-Ninth  New  York,  and  Sixth  New  Hamp 
shire  Regiments,  were  re-embarked.  Lieut.  Spaulding  of 
Company  A,  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  who,  with  his  crew, 
had,  at  various  times,  received  favorable  notice  from  the 
commanding  and  brigade  generals,  now  received  orders  from 
Gen'l  Foster  to  organize  such  boats  and  launches  as  were 
connected  with  transports  of  the  First  Brigade,  with  a  view 
to  greater  efficiency  in  landing  troops,  when  needed.  This 
act  on  the  part  of  Gen'l  Foster  was  in  recognition  of  the 
lieutenant's  precedence  at  the  landing  at  Roanoke,  and  was 
fully  justified  by  the  results. 

During  the  delay  incident  to  replenishing  our  supplies, 
preparatory  to  another  attack  upon  the  enemy,  Gen'l  Burn- 
side  had  sent  spies  to  New  Berne,  and  through  one  arriving 
at  this  time,  received  information  of  its  garrison  and 
defences  to  March  7th.  The  morning  of  the  llth,  the  entire 
fleet  retraced  its  course  to  Hatteras,  arriving  there  about 
dusk.  Here  our  hearts  were  gladdened  by  the  arrival  of 
the  steamer  "  Suwanee  "with  a  large  mail  from  the  North. 

The  12th  was  a  faultless  day,  not  a  breeze  disturbing  the 
long,  smooth  swell  of  Pamlico,  or  chilling  the  sun's  rays 
from  a  cloudless  sky.  Hatteras,  for  once,  had  declared  a 
truce.  At  an  early  hour,  the  fleet  was  moving  in  column 
by  brigade,  the  gurgling  of  water  at  the  prow,  or  lapping  of 
the  extending  arms  of  our  wake,  alone  disturbing  the  still- 


78  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ness  of  the  hour.  Half  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  transports, 
with  flanks  extending  fur  to  the  right  and  left,  the  navy 
moved  in  line  of  battle,  covering  the  fleet  of  sixty  vessels 
which,  in  double  .column  by  brigade,  was  ploughing  the 
waters  at  the  rear.  The  decks  were  covered  by  men 
basking  in  the  sun,  re-reading  letters  from  home,  or 
gathered  in  knots  to  hear  "  the  latest  from  the  front."  The 
First  Brigade  was  again  in  advance,  the  "  Eccruit "  in  tow  of 
her  faithful  consort,  "  New  Brunswick,"  and  the  "Ranger" 
in  the  second  column,  just  opposite.  At  2  P.M.,  we  entered 
the  Neuse  River,  which,  at  its  mouth,  is  an  estuary  twelve 
miles  wide,  with  little  diminution  for  upwards  of  twenty- 
five  miles.  Our  approach  and  progress  were  signalled  the 
enemy  above,  by  means  of  fires  along  the  northern  bank, 
the  black  smoke  rising  upward  like  wierd  fingers  of  fate. 

As  night  set  in,  the  sky  Avas  heavy  with  threatening 
storm,  and  the  wake  of  our  vessels  became  a  sheen  of  phos 
phorescent  light,  fading  far  to  the  rear  in  pitchy  darkness. 
At  nine  o'clock,  we  reached  the  mouth  of  Slocum's  Creek, 
fifteen  miles  below  New  Berue,  and  anchored  for  the  night. 
No  signal-light  threw  its  rays  over  the  scene,  but  dark, 
grim  and  silent  as  the  abode  of  death,  the  fleet  rested  on  the 
waters.  A  gentle  roll  gave  motion  to  our  craft,  sufficient 
to  rock  us  to  the  deepest  sleep,  and  the  soldiers  who  were 
so  soon  to  respond  to  the  tocsin  of  war,  rested  peacefully 
and  securely  in  their  berths,  while  the  noble,  vigilant 
"  tars,"  in  boats  and  launches,  formed  a  cordon  of  videttes 
around  the  fleet  to  protect  us  from  hostile  intrusion.  Night 
deepened  into  ebon  darkness  and  storm,  the  only  sound 
being  the  driving  rain  upon  deck,  or  the  half-hourly  toll  of 
the  night  watch  on  the  armed  vessels  encircling  us. 

In  spite  of  a  drenching  rain,  the  signal  to  land  was  hoisted 
at  seven  o'clock  the  13th,  and  with  three  days'  rations,  forty 
rounds,  overcoats,  and  rubber-blankets,  we  awaited  convey 
ance  ashore.  The  navy  shelled  the  southern  banks  to  cover 


LANDING  AT  SLOCUM's  CREEK.  79 

our  landing,  while  the  steamers  "  Alice  Price,"  "  Pilot  Boy," 
"Phenix,"  "Pawtuxent,"  and  "Union,"  with  long  linos  of 
launches  in  tow,  started  for  the  mouth  of  Slocum's  Creek. 
So  eaijer  were  the  men  for  the  honor  of  first  reaching  the 

O  o 

shore,  that  many  leaped  into  water  waist  deep,  and  strug 
gled  to  the  banks  ;  and  so  close  were  the  competing  crews 
that  the  question  never  has  been,  nor  will  be,  settled,  "Who 
first  desecrated  this  sacred  soil?"  The  Twenty-First  Mass. 
Kegt.  (Keno's  Brigade)  were  given  the  advance  as  skirmish 
ers.  The  Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  under  the  eye  of  Gen'l 
Foster,  moved  up  the  turnpike  in  support  of  the  skirmishers, 
followed  by  the  rest  of  the  brigade  as  landed ;  Company  A, 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Kegt.,  bringing  up  the  rear  at 
the  landing,  about  four  p.  M. 

The  head  of  the  column  had  proceeded  about  six  miles, 
and  were  near  Otter  Creek,  when  Capt.  Williamson  of  the 
Topographical  Engineers,  reported  heavy  works  upon  our 
front,  apparently  deserted.  These  consisted  of  well-con 
structed  breastworks  from  the  river  to  the  railroad,  a  mile 
distant,  a  fort  guarding  the  river-flank,  and  four  flanking 
bastions  facing  the  railroad  terminus.;  the  whole  protected  by 
abatis  and  a  deep,  wide  ditch  along  its  front. 

Besting  here  until  three  o'clock  for  the  force  in  the  rear  to 
close  up,  Gen'l  Burnside  ordered  Gen'l  Foster,  with  his 
brigade,  to  advance  by  the  turnpike,  —  Gen'l  Reno  by  the  rail 
road,  —  while  Gen'l  Parke  was  to  follow  Gen'l  Foster,  and 
support  either  commands  as  needed.  The  rain  continued  to 
fall  the  entire  day,  and  the  roads  —  at  best  but  sloughs  —  Avere 
churned  to  a  sticky  pulp,  of  uncertain  depth,  so  that  progress 
was  slow  and  difficult.  At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the 
advance  bivouacked  in  a  pine  forest  about  four  miles  from 
New  Berne.  Company  A,  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  was,  at 
this  time,  far  in  the  rear,  tugging  in  the  darkness  with  two 
twelve-pound  howitzers,  whose  wheels  sank  to  the  hubs  in 
the  muddy  road.  Every  man  "  pulled  for  all  he  was  worth," 


80  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

slipping,  plunging,  and  tugging,  until,  at  nine  o'clock,  Lieuts. 
Spanieling  and  Clark  —  Avho  had  completed  the  debarking  of 
troops,  and  hurried  forward  to  overtake  their  company  — 
arrived.  Seeing  the  exhausted  condition  of  their  men,  they 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  leaving  the  guns  with  a  squad 
of  troops  guarding  a  cross-road.  Plunging  again  into  mud 
and  darkness,  this  company  advanced  until  about  midnight, 
finding  their  regiment  at  the  extreme  front. 

Camp-fires  were  burning  in  all  direction?,  some  of  them 
running  to  the  top  of  resinous  trees,  lighting  the  surround 
ing  forest  as  by  the  glare  of  the  setting  sun.  The  men  lay 
about  on  beds  of  brush,  and  were  covered  with  rubber 
blankets  for  protection  from  the  rain.  About  two  o'clock  a 
cloud  seemed  to  burst  over  the  bivouac,  deluging  it  with  a 
flood  which  awakened  the  sleepers,  most  of  whom  found 
themselves  lying  in  pools  of  water. 

At  half-past  five,  the  14th  of  March,  the  reveille  roused 
the  troops  for  the  stern  duties  of  the  day,  the  heavy  fog 
rendering  the  dawning  light  almost  imperceptible.  An  hour 
later  the  column  was  in  motion,  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass. 
still  in  advance,  followe/l  in  order  by  the  Twenty-Fifth  and 
Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiments.  After  following 
the  road  some  distance,  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass,  deployed 
in  line,  with  its  left  resting  upon  the  road,  the  Twenty-Fifth 
Regiment  forming  upon  their  right.  The  Twenty-Seventh 
now  moved  in  column  to  the  front  by  the  turnpike,  and  were 
somewhat  in  advance  of  the  brigade,  when  suddenly  a  solid 
shot  sped  down  the  road,  and  would  have  entailed  a  heavy 
loss  upon  the  regiment  but  for  the  ranks  having  opened  to 
either  side  to  avoid  the  mud  at  the  centre. 

Gen'l  Foster,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  with 
Col.  Lee,  said  to  him,  "Colonel,  bring  your  regiment  into 
line  upon  the  left  of  the  road  !  You  need  not  deploy  skir 
mishers,  the  enemy  are  just  in  front.  Move  forward  in  line 
and  engage  them  at  once  ! "  Advancing  in  line  about  two 


THE  ENEMY'S  WORKS. 


81 


hundred  yards,  we  came  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  in  full 
sight  of  the  enemy  and  their  works.  The  chart  explains  the 
position  of  the  forces,  and  also  indicates  the  position  of  the 
companies  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  as  in  line  of  battle  : 


I         A 


At  the  river,  upon  the  extreme  right,  was  a  large  fort, 
mounting  thirteen  thirty-two  pounders,  rifled  —  six  of  which 
Avere  swivel-guns,  commanding  our  position.  From  this  a 
continuous  line  of  breastworks  extended  to  the  railroad,  some 
distance  to  the  left.  Behind  these  works  were  three  field- 
batteries,  and  a  thirty-two  pound  gun  in  a  bastion  across  the 
road  to  guard  its  approach.  Beyond  the  railroad  was  a 
series  of  thirteen  curvettes  and  redans,  extending  a  mile  and 
quarter,  with  a  two-gun  fort  at  the  extreme  left.  These 
fortifications  extended  a  distance  of  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  river,  and  were  defended  by  three  batteries,  seven 
regiments  and  four  independent  companies  of  infantry,  a 
battalion  of  cavalry,  and  a  company  of  the  First  Maryland 
(rebel)  Rcgt.  in  reserve ;  the  whole  under  the  command  of 
Gen'l  Lawrence  O.  B.  Branch,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Col 
lege,  and  a  former  representative  to  Congress.  Col.  Camp 
bell,  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment,  was 
in  the  immediate  command  of  the  forces,  from  the  river  to 
the  railroad,  and  Col.  Avcry,  of  the  Thirty-Third  North 
Carolina,  of  those  beyond. 


82  TWENTY- SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

We  h:id  but  time  to  glance  at  these  fortifications,  with  a 
rebel  officer  riding  a  white  horse  behind  them,  when  Col.  Lee 
gave  the  order,  and  the  fire  of  the  Twenty- Seventh  rang  out  on 
the  morning  air.   Unfortunately,  we  went  into  the  engagement 
without  testing  our  rifles,  and  many  were  so  damp  as  not  to 
discharge,  while  with  others  the  balls  fell  harmless  a  few  feet 
from  the  muzzle.     There  was  a  moment's  lull,  when,  as  by  one 
impulse,  the  enemy's  works  were  a  sheet  of  flame  and  smoke. 
Twenty-six  cannons  and  thousands  of  rifles  belched  their  iron 
hail  upon  us,  with  a  concussion  that  shook  the  earth.     The  air 
was  filled  with  groanings,  crashings,  howlings,  hums,  and 
z-z-z-ps,  while  showers  of  splintered  limbs  of  trees  fell  around 
us,  doubling  the  risk  of  the  field.     As  one  writer  described  it : 
"  The  air.  was  alive  with  all  mysterious  sounds,  and  death  in 
every  one  of  them.     There  were  muffled  howls  that  seemed 
in  rage  because  their  missiles  missed  you  ;  the  angry  buzz  of 
the  familiar  Minie  ;  the  spit  of  the  common  bullet ;  hisses,  and 
the  great  whirring  rushes  of  shell.     And  then  came  sounds 
Avhich  made  the  air  instinct  with  warning,  or  quickened  it 
with   vivid    alarms,  —  long   wails   that   fateful ly   bemoaned 
the  death  they  wrought ;  fluttering  screams  that  filled  the 
space  with  horror,  and  cries  that  ran  the  diapason  of  terror 
and  despair."     To  one  unharmed,  it  was  grand  to  stand  on 
that  shot-rent  field,  and  view  its  terrible  grandeur.     The 
spell  had  been  broken  ;  the  Twenty-Seventh  had  given  and 
received  the  shock  of  battle,  and,  like  their  own  rock-ribbed 
coasts  and  hills,  stood  unmoved  amid  the  tempest.     In  ante 
bellum    days,   we   frequently  saw    pictures    of  battles   and 
charges,  in  which  the  line  was  formed  in  two  ranks,  shoulder 
to  shoulder,  dressed  by  the  right  with  perfect  precision,  as 
they  received  the  shock,  or  charged  upon  the  enemy's  works. 
Such  sketches  draw  more  upon  the  artist's  imagination  than 
observation,  and  in  practice  would  be  an  evidence  of  incom- 
petency  or  foolhardiness.     Actual  war  dissipates  such  notions 
of  order  and  bravery,  for  however  perfect  the  alignment  at 


POSITION    OF    THE    UNION   FORCES.  83 

the  outset,  when  shell,  grape,  and  Minies  begin  to  pour  into 
the  ranks,  such  order  is  soon  lost.  When  the  column  moves 
forward  to  the  charge,  there  is  about  as  much  precision  as 
with  a  swarm  of  bees  upon  the  wing,  so  that  when  the  ob 
jective  point  is  reached,  companies  and  regiments  are  often 
mixed  in  a  way  never  contemplated  by  military  tactics. 

At  the  order,  "Load  and  fire  at  will !  "  we  broke  ranks, 
adjusting  ourselves  to  our  position,,  as  irregular  as  forest 
trees,  and  settled  to  the  stern  work  of  war.  The  horses  and 
gunners  of  the  rebel  batteries  received  special  attention  to 
prevent  the  movement  of  the  guns  to  threatened  points. 

The  enemy,  encouraged  by  our  first  fire,  exposed  them 
selves  .unguardedly,  and  our  second  volley  was  in  consequence 
more  fatal.  Their  sharpshooters  in  the  trees  back  of  their 
position,  made  fatal  work  along  our  line,  until,  satisfied  of 
their  position,  we  directed  a  volley  into  their  coverts,  when 
their  harassing  practice  ceased. 

The  position  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  was  in  the  open  field, 
and  some  rods  in  advance  of  the  remainder  of  the  brigade, 
which  had  formed  and  opened  fire  within  a  serrated  line  ot 
woods.  After  being  engaged  half  an  hour,  we  were  ordered 
back  to  complete  the  alignment  of  the  brigade. 

The  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  occupied  the  extreme  right  before 
Fort  Thompson,  with  the  right  of  its  line  refused  to  guard 
its  flank.  The  Twenty-Fourth  Mass,  formed  next  to  the 
Twenty-Fifth,  with  its  left  resting  upon  the  turnpike.  The 
right  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  rested  on  the  left  of  this  road, 
supporting  six  howitzers  under  command  of  Capt.  Dayton, 
of  the  schooner  "Highlander,"  and  Lieut.  MeCook,  of  the 
"Stars  and  Stripes."  This  part  of  the  regiment  remained 
in  the  open  field,  subjected  to  a  sharp  enfilading  fire  from  the 
enemy's  artillery  in  their  attempt  to  silence  our  howitzers. 
The  left  of  the  regiment  was  in  part  protected  by  a  copse  or 
spur  of  the  forest  in  which  it  rested.  At  their  left  was  the 
Twenty-Third  Mass.,  followed  by  the  Tenth  Connecticut  Regi- 


84  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ment  and  Reno's  Brigade,  most  of  Gen'l  Paike's  Brigade 
being  in  reserve.  The  enemy's  position  was — strangely  — 
lower  than  that  occupied  by  us,  and  the  rain  of  the  previous 
night  so  softened  the  earth  that  each  recoil  of  their  artillery 
settled  "  the  trail  "  of  their  guns  sufficiently  to  keep  most  of 
their  fire  above  us.  As  the  battle  progressed  our  howitzers 
were  dismounted  and  silenced,  and  the  contest  was  continued 
by  us  with  rifles  alone. 

A  heavy  smoke  settled  upon  the  field,  obscuring  the 
enemy,  so  that  we  were  forced  to  rely  upon  the  elevation 
and  range  obtained  early  in  the  engagement.  Our  men  were 
dropping  fast,  and  it  was  evident  we  were  before  the  most 
effective  works  of  the  enemy,  but  this  only  inspired  the  iegi- 
ment  with  greater  zeal.  At  nine  o'clock  our  ammunition 
was  exhausted,  and  with  fixed  bayonets  we  held  our  position, 
unable  to  return  the  fire  which  the  enemy  were  now  deliver 
ing  with  double  fury.  Half  an  hour  later  the  Eleventh  Con 
necticut  relieved  us,  and  we  retired  with  a  loss  of  seven 
killed  and  seventy-eight  wounded. 

While  waiting  for  ammunition,  the  sound  of  a  charge  fell 
upon  our  ears  and  we  returned  at  double  quick  to  the  sup 
port  of  our  comrades,  arriving  in  time  to  see  them  scale  the 
works,  and  the  enemy  in  full  retreat.  The  yell  of  the 
charge  gave  place  to  cheers  of  victory,  in  which  we  joined  as 
we  dashed  over  the  abatis  and  entered  the  entrenchments. 
The  dead  and  wounded  lay  scattered  along  the  breastworks, 
the  incoherent  expressions  of  many  of  the  latter  showing  a 
beastly  intoxication.  The  artillery  horses  lay  dead  or  strug 
gling  in  the  traces,  thus  preventing  the  removal  of  a  single 
gun.  The  Fourth  Rhode  Island  and  Eighth  Conn.,  sup 
ported  by  the  Fifty-First  New  York  Regiment,  had  broken 
the  enemy's  line  at  the  right  of  the  railroad,  but  the 
remainder  of  Reno's  Brigade,  and  a  portion  of  Gen'l  Parke's 
were  still  sharply  engaged  in  the  woods  beyond.  Gen'l 
Foster  at  once  advanced  upon  the  rear  of  their  position 


BURNING    THE    BRIDGE    AND    TOWN.  85 

with  the  Twenty- Fifth  Mass.,  capturing  some  two  hundred 
of  the  enemy,  and  routing  the  remainder. 

Ten  days  previous,  when  Gen'l  Burnside's  spy  left  this 
locality,  there  were  no  fortifications  at  this  point,  hence  the 
General  was  unaware  of  the  difficulties  to  be  met  at  this  part 
of  the  field. 

The  enemy  attribute  their  misfortune  to  the  Seventh  North 
Carolina  Militia,  who  were  stationed  at  the  north  of  the  rail 
road.  This  regiment  had  been  driven  from  the  works  by 
a  portion  of  the  Twenty-First  Mass.  Regt.,  when  the  latter 
were  in  turn  driven  out  by  the  Thirty-Fifth  North  Carolina 
and  the  Seventh  returned  to  their  position.  Later,  the 
Fourth  Rhode  Island  and  Eighth  Connecticut,  supported  by 
the  Fifty-First  New  York,  made  a  determined  assault  upon 
them,  when  the  Seventh  were  again  forced  from  their  position 
and  the  day  lost.  Doubtless  the  point  was  not  as  tenaciously 
contested,  or  perhaps  was  not  capable  of  the  resistance  of  other 
parts  of  the  line,  but  the  assertion  that  "they  ingloriously 
retreated  without  a  contest "  is  not  sustained  by  the  losses  of 
our  three  regiments  engaged  in  the  charge,  or  by  the  riddled 
forest  on  their  front.  Misfortune  must  have  its  scapegoat, 
and  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment  bears  the  odium  of 
a  defeat  which  was  inevitable. 

The  main  body  of  the  enemy  retreated  across  the  Trent 
River  above  New  Berne,  but  a  portion  of  them,  with  re-in- 
forcements  arriving  just  as  the  battle  closed,  and  a  train 
loaded  with  the  wounded  and  slain,  escaped  through  the  city, 
setting  fire  to  the  railroad  bridge  as  they  passed.  This 
bridge,  seven  hundred  feet  long,  had  been  prepared  for 
destruction,  and  when  our  column,  two  miles  below,  first 
sighted  it,  the  fire  was  fully  under  way.  Smoke,  black  as 
midnight,  rolled  up  from  the  bridge  and  from  different  parts 
of  the  city,  a  livid  representation  of  Dante's  Inferno,  or  a 
second  Sodom  or  Gomorrah.  Had  the  words  Doom  !  Doom  !  ! 
Doom  !  !  !  been  suspended  in  huge  letters  over  the  city  it 


86  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

could  hardly  have  intensified  the  scene,  or  the  retributive 
justice  upon  an  unrighteous  cause.  Arriving  at  the  river 
the  regularity  of  the  streets  of  the  city  opposite,  enabled  us 
to  see  the  enemy  still  at  their  work  of  incendiarism.  Two 
pieces  of  artillery  were  placed  upon  the  railroad  and  shells 
thrown  over  the  city  and  through  the  streets  to  stop  their 
nefarious  work. 

Commodore  Rowan,  with  his  usual  promptness,  had  blown 
up  the  river  blockade,  and  arriving  before  the  city,  offered 
to  transport  the  forces  across  to  New  Berne.  The  Twenty- 
Fifth  Mass,  were  landed  at  the  foot  of  Craven  Street,  and 
immediately  occupied  the  city  as  "Provost  Guard,"  while 
the  Twenty-Seventh  were  carried  to  its  western  suburbs, 
and,  landing  at  the  upper  dock  on  the  Neuse  River,  marched 
put  to  the  North  Carolina  Fair  Grounds  and  occupied  the 
camp  of  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Regiment  without 
opposition. 

Thus  closed  the  14th  of  March,  in  which  the  yeomanry  of 
the  North  had  clothed  the  army  with  a  new  prestige  and 
given  the  Union  a  victory  which  struck  consternation  to  its 
enemies.  Its  results  were  the  capture  of  eight  batteries  of 
heavy  guns  and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery  (in  all 
sixty-four  guns),  two  hundred  prisoners,  the  entire  camp 
equipage  of  the  enemy,  large  quantities  of  ammunition 
and  quartermasters'  stores,  two  steamers,  a  number  of 
sailing  vessels,  and  a  large  quantity  of  rosin,  turpentine 
and  cotton.  Says  Woodbury's  "History  of  the  Ninth 
Army  Corps":  "It  was  a  peculiar  conflict,  and  it  may  be 
doubted  if  another  such  was  fought  during  the  war.  A 
bold  attack  upon  a  strongly  fortified  position,  heavily  armed 
and  abundantly  manned,  made  by  a  force  of  infantry  with 
out  siege  guns,  or  anything  but  a  few  howitzers."  Our  force 
engaged  did  not  exceed  sixty-five  hundred,  which  was 
equalled  by  that  of  the  enemy ;  yet  after  four  hours  of  con- 


CASUALTIES    OF   THE    UNION    ARMY.  87 

flict  we  succeeded  in  defeating  them  in  their  chosen  position, 
and  in  putting  them  to  utter  rout. 

Gen'l  Burnside  said  in  his  official  report:  "  I  beg  to  say 
to  the  commanding  general,  I  have  a  division  under  my  com 
mand  that  can  be  relied  upon  in  any  emergency." 

JeflVrson  Davis  says  of  Roanoke  and  New  Berne  :  "  These 
places  were  given  up  without  resistance,"  though  their  official 
report  of  this  engagement  places  their  loss  at  five  hundred  and 
fourteen  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Southern  historic 
papers  say:  "The  rapid  fall  of  Roanoke  and  New  Berne 
struck  terror  and  dismay  along  the  whole  coast."  As  to  the 
accuracy  of  our  fire,  Major  Whitford  said  to  the  writer  a  year 
later,  when  on  a  flag  of  truce,  "  Give  the  d — 1  their  due,  it 

was  you Yankees  with  your  rifles  who  captured  New 

Berne.  Your  range  was  so  perfect  it  was  about  sure  death  to 
raise  a  head  above  the  works  !  " 

This  victory  was  purchased  with  the  blood  of  New  Eng 
land's  bravest  sons,  the  loss  by  brigades  and  regiments  being 
as  follows  :  — 

First     Brigade. 

GEN.  FOSTER. 

Killed.    Wounded.     Total. 

Twenty -Third  Mass.  Regiment,  .         .           5  39  44 

Twenty-Fourth     "  8  41  49 

Twenty-Fifth        "  4  16  20 

Tweny-Seventh    "  7  78  85 

Tenth  Conn.  .                    5  16  21 

Totals, 29       190       219 

Second     Driga.de. 

GEN.  RENO. 

Twenty -First  Mass.  Regiment,   .         .         .17  40  57 

Fifty- First  N.  Y.              "           ...         14  78  92 

Ninth  N.  J.                       "...           4  58  62 

Fifty -First  Penn.              "          ...  10  10 

Totals,         ...  35       186       221 


88  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Tlilrcl     Brigade. 

GEN.  PAIIKE. 

Killed.    Wounded.      Total. 

Eighth  Conn.  Regiment,  ....  3  4  7 

Eleventh  "             "  ....  6  21  27 

'Fourth  R.I.           "  ....  10  22  32 

Fifth        "       Battalion  ....  4  7  11 

Totals,         .         .         .         .  23         54         77 

A  loss  of  eighty-seven  killed,  and  four  hundred  and  thirty 
wounded,  or  a  total  loss  of  five  hundred  and  seventeen  men. 

The  enemy's  loss,  as  reported  by  the  Governor  of  North 
Carolina  to  the  North  Carolina  State  "  Journal,"  was  :  — 

Killed.    Wounded.  Missing. 

Seventh  N.  C.  Regt.,  Lieut.  Col.  Haywood, 

commanding,  .  .  .  .  .6  15  30 

Twenty-Sixth  N.  C.  Regt.,  Col.  Zebulon  C. 

Vance,  commanding,  .  .  .  .5  10  72 

Twenty-Seventh  N.  C.  Regt.,  Major  Gilmer, 

commanding, ......  4  8  42 

Twenty-Eighth  N.  C.  Regt.,  Col.  Lee,  com 
manding,  .......  6 

Thirty-Third  N.  C.  Regt.,  Col.  Avery,  com 
manding,  32  28  144 

Thirty-Fifth  N.  C.  Regt.,  Col.  Sinclair,  com 
manding,        .         .         .         .         .         .5  11           9 

Thirty-Seventh   N.  C.    Regt.,    Lieut.    Col. 

Barber,  commanding,       ....     1  3           8 

Latham's  Battery,       .          .         .         .         .10,  11         22 

Brem's           "             .         .         .         .         .1  8         17 

Mayo's          "             .......  2 

Four  Independent  Companies  Infantry,       .     5  63         68 

Totals,        .         .         »         .         .  -      .  64       101       413=578 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  :  — 


CASUALTIES  OF  THE  REGIMENT.  89 


KILLED. 

Lieut.  JOSEPH  W.  LAWTON,  Ware,  Company  I. 
Private  SAMUEL  A.  DUXNING,  Worthington,  Company  A. 

"      JOSEPH  DRAKE,  Warwick,  Company  B. 

"      EDWARD  A.  JACKSON,  Lee,  Company  E. 

"      LYMAN  M.  MARSHALL,  Tolland,  Company  F. 

"       WILLIAM  C.  SOULE,  Tolland,  Company  F. 

"      LEANDER  WOODRUFF,  Agawam,  Company  F. 

WOUNDED.  —  Company  A. 
Private  Thomas  Bolton,  Easthampton.     Leg  ;  slight. 

"      Frederick  Klistner,  Hatfield.     Leg;  slight. 
Drummer  Charles  C.  Loud,  Northampton.     Face  ;   severe. 
Private  George  Stevens,  Williamsburg.     Leg  ;  slight. 

Company  B. 

Sergt.  Otis  Oliver,  Athol.     Right  thigh. 
Corp.  Van  Buren  French,  Athol.     Arm. 

"     William  H.  Pierce,  New  Salem. 
Private  George  Britton,  Erving.     Hip. 

"       Frank  Oliver,  Jr.,  Athol. 

"       Adolphus  Porter,  New  Salem. 

"       Isaac  Powers,  Prescott.     Breast. 

"       George  M.  Williams,  Wendell. 

Company  C. 

Serg.  Reuben  DeWolf,  Lej'den.     Arm  ;  severe. 
Private  John  C.  Delvey,  Gill. 

"      Martin  L.  Jones,  Enfield. 

"      Patrick  Sweeney,  Shelburne.     Shoulder;  fatal. 

Company  D. 

Lieut.  John  S.  Aitcheson,  Chicopee.  Head;  slight. 
Corp.  George  A.  Griffin,  Pelham.  Shoulder  ;  slight. 
Private  Charles  K.  Baker,  Amherst.  Skull  fractured. 

"      Charles  II.  Barton,  Amherst.     Lost  two  fingers. 

"      James  Bowman,  Amherst.     Leg;  slight. 


90  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

Private  John  E.  Cushman,  Araherst.     Left  arm  amputated. 
"      Henry  Dmiakin,  Hadley.     Side  ;  slight. 
"      Otis  B.  Griffin,  Pelham.     Left  knee. 
"      James  A.  Preston,  Amherst.     Right  side  ;  slight. 
"       Solomon  H.  Williams,  Amherst.      Gun  burst  in  his  hands. 

Company  E. 

Lieut.  John  W.  Trafton,  Springfield.     Slight. 
Sergt.  Richard  J.  Bush,  Great  Barrington.     Leg  ;  slight. 
Corp.  Charles  H.  Bligh,  Pittsfield.     Arm. 
"     Laville  F.  Hall,  Pittsfield.     Hand. 
Private  Marceline  Barrett,  Cheshire.     Arm. 

"      Alfred  B.  Champlin,  Lee.     Thigh. 

"      Roswell  D.  Cobb,  Monterey.     Foot. 

"      John  McCavanaugh,  New  York.     Hip 

"      Martin  C.  Parish,  Dummerston,  Vt.     Leg;  slight. 

"      Benjamin  D.  Washburn,  Athol.     Shoulder. 

Company  F. 

Corp.  Daniel  W.  Bates,  Southampton.     Slight. 
"      Edwin  H.  Coit,  Huntington.     Slight. 
"      Calvin  J.  Treat,  Granville.     Slight. 
Private  Vernon  D.  Austin,  Southampton.     Arm  and  side. 

"      Edward  Burns,  Westfield.     Temple. 

"      Leroy  Bosworth,  Westfield.     Right  arm. 

"      William  E.  Clark,  Springfield.     Severe. 

"      John  Dorflin,  Westfield.     Slight. 

"      John  W.  Madison,  Westfield.     Slight. 

"      Asa  P.  Merrilt,  Huntington. 

"      Addison  Noble,  Westfield.     Cheek  bone  fractured. 

"      Amos  B.  Pomeroy,  Granville.     Slight. 

"      Charles  H.  Searle,  Southampton.     Slight. 

"      Alfred  Woodworth,  Agawam.     Slight. 

Company  G. 

Capt.  Ripley  R.  Swift,  Chicopee.     Leg;  severe. 
Sergt.  Edwin  C.  Hendricks,  Chicopee. 
Private  Marcellus  M.  Adams,  Chicopee. 


CASUALTIES  OF  THE  REGIMENT.  91 

Private  Calvin  Blacknaer,  Northampton. 

"  Patrick  Coffee,  Northampton. 

"  John  Manix,  Northampton. 

"  Thomas  Monlin,  Chicopee.     Face. 

"  William  D.  Steele,  Chicopee.     Hand. 

"  James  Sullivan,  Chicopee. 

"  Thomas  Taj'lor,  Chicopee.     Arm. 

Company  H. 
Sergt.  William  Campbell,  Adams.     Ankle. 

"      Nelson  W.  Bowen,  Adams.     Shoulder. 
Private  Jared  Estes,  Adams.     Head. 

"      Charles  A.  Fowler,  Williamstown.     Head. 

"      John  O'Brien,  Adams.     Slight. 

"      James  H.  Perkins,  Williamstown.     Knee. 

"      Ro}*al  H.  Plumb,  Adams.     Leg. 

"      James  L.  White,  Stamford,  Vt.     Head. 

"      Joel  Wing,  Ashfield.     Thigh  amputated  ;  fatal. 

Company  I. 

Private  Jacob  P.  Barton,  Brimfleld.     Head  ;  slight. 
"      Thomas  D.  Pepper,  Br'mneld.     Jaw. 
•'      Addison  P.  Wade,  Ludlow.     Knee. 

Company  K. 

Lieut.  George  Warner,  Springfield.     Right  foot  amputated. 
Sergt.  Frederick  A.  Ingersoll,  Springfield.     Leg. 
Corp.  Robert  R.  McGregor,  Chicopee.     Slight. 
Private  Patrick  Hayes,  Ware.     Slight. 

"      Michael  McGrath,  Ludlow.     Leg  shattered. 

"      Anthony  Wackle,  Great  Barrington.     Head  ;  fatal. 

Comrade  Wackle  Avas  included  with  the  killed  in  the 
official  report.  He,  however,  lived  unconscious  until  the 
17th  instant. 


92          TWENTY-SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  REGIMENT. 

LIEUT.  JOSEPH  WALLINGFORD  LAWTON 
was  born  at  Ware,  Oct.  9,  1839,  and  upon  the  death  of  his 
mother,  three  months  later,  was  entrusted  to  the  care  of  his 
grandmother,  mi'ler  whose  training  and  faithful  counsels  he 
remained  until  entering  his  country's  service.  He  recruited 
sixteen  men,  with  whom  he  joined  the  Ludlow  Company  (I), 
himself  as  first  sergeant,  where  his  energy  and  promptness 
secured  for  him,  upon  the  death  of  Capt.  Hubbard,  promo 
tion  as  a  second  lieutenant.  He  first  appeared  as  such  on 
the  march  to,  and  upon  the  battle-field  of  New  Berne,  where 
his  new  uniform  became  a  prominent  mark  for  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters.  He  fell  while  in  our  first  position,  soon  after 
entering  the  field,  a  ball  piercing  his  forehead,  killing  him 
instantly.  He  was  the  first  of  the  sons  of  Ware  to  fall  upon 
the  field,  and  his  name  is  borne  by  Post  No.  85,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  of  his  native  town. 

COMRADE  DUNNING 

of  Company  A,  was  a  member  of  Lieut.  Spaulding's  boat- 
crew,  and  after  a  hard  day's  work  in  landing  the  troops,  the 
13th,  was  told  he  could  remain  with  the  fleet.  He  replied, 
"I  shall  not  leave  you,  lieutenant.  If  there  is  to  be  a  battle, 
I  shall  be  there  !  "  About  ten  minutes  after  the  engagement 
opened,  a  ball  pierced  his  forehead,  and  he  fell  without  a 
struggle.  He  was  a  faithful,  noble-hearted  young  man,  of 
eighteen  years,  "the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and  she  a 
widow." 

Amongst  those  who  fell  in  other  organizations  was  Lieut. 
Col.  Henry  Merritt,  of  Salem,  Twenty-Third  Mass.  Regt., 
and  the  brave  and  accomplished  Frazar  A.  Stearns,  Acting- 
Adjutant  Twenty-First  Mass.  Regt.  The  latter  was  a  son  of 
Pres.  W.  A.  Stearns,  D.D.,  of  Amherst  College,  and  fell  as 
a  portion  of  his  regiment  made  their  first  charge  on  the 
enemy's  works.  Gen'l  Burnside  presented  one  of  the  six- 


INCIDENTS    OF    THE    BATTLE.  93 

pound  brass  guns  captured  of  Brem's  Battery,  to  this  regi 
ment,  as  a  monument  to  his  memory,  and  the  same  is  now 
suitably  inscribed,  and  preserved  at  Amhert  College. 

March  24,  1862,  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  passed 
the  following  resolution  :  — 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts  are 
due,  and  through  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  assembled  are  gratefully  tendered,  to  the  officers  and 
soldiers  of  the  Twenty-First,  Twenty -Third,  Twenty-Fourth, 
Twenty -Fifth,  and  Twenty-Seventh  Regiments  of  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  for  their  heroic  deeds  at  the  battle  and  victory  of  New 
Berne.  In  the  hands  of  these  men  the  honor  of  Massachusetts  will 
always  be  safe. 

Of  the  many  incidents  of  interest,  we  present  the  follow 
ing  :  Col.  Jordan,  of  the  Thirty-First  North  Carolina  Regi 
ment,  whom  we  captured  and  paroled  at  Roanoke,  was  re 
ported  by  citizens  to  have  been  at  New  Berne  the  day  pre 
vious  to  the  battle,  and,  in  conversation  with  Gen'l  Branch, 
to  have  said,  "General,  you  have  my  best  hopes  and  wishes, 
and  were  I  not  on  parole,  you  would  have  my  assistance  ; 
but,  General,  I  will  give  you  just  twenty-four  hours  to  hold 
your  position.  They  would  charge  your  batteries  and  in- 
trenchmcnts,  if  the  obstacles  were  twice  as  great.  All  h — 1 
won't  keep  them  back.  If  they  can't  do  better,  they  will 
swim  the  river"  (it  was  two  miles  wide  at  this  point)  "and 
come  in  your  rear !  Have  the  place  they  will,  and  you  can't 
hold  it ! "  Evidently  the  Colonel  remembered  Roanoke 
Island. 

"Joe,"  a  member  of  the  band,  was  a  favorite  with  our 
regiment,  but  had  an  aversion  to  the  letting  go  of  words. 
Awaiting  a  call  for  ambulance  duty,  he  had  sought  refuge 
behind  an  old  stump,  when  a  solid  shot  buried  itself  in  the 
ground  just  in  front,  covering  him  with  a  shoAver  of  dirt  and 
mud.  This  Avas  a  trifle  too  much  for  Joe,  and  he  hastily 


94  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

moved  to  another  part  of  the  field,  exclaiming,  "  Thi-  thi- 
this  is  no  place  for  the  Fa-  Fa-  Fay  family  !  " 

W ,  of  Company  — ,  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  a 

young  man  of  strong  religious  principles,  was  absent  on  de 
tached  service  at  the  battle  of  Koanoke  Island,  and  when 
hearing  its  recital,  assured  his  comrades  if  they  would  but 
trust  in  the  Lord,  they  could  enter  such  scenes  without  fear. 
Early  in  this  engagement,  a  charge  of  canister  killed  and 

wounded  several  of  his  company,  when  W suddenly 

decamped,  appearing  at  New  Berne  late  in  the  evening. 
Unfortunately,  many  of  Company  —  had  been  skeptical  of 
his  assertion,  and  now  wickedly  plied  him  with  the  inquiry, 
whether  he  trusted  most  that  day  on  the  Lord,  or  on  his  legs. 

\y honestly  replied,  "  I  didn't  realize  how  scarey  it 

wis  to  be  shot  at,  I  don't  believe  the  Lord  has  much  to  do 
with  such  operations." 

Says  the  Wilmington  "Journal"  of  that  date,  "John 
Mixon,  of  Company  E,  Twenty-Seventh  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  was  wounded  through  the  shoulder  and  breast,  the 
ball  passing  through  him  and  lodging  in  his  clothes.  John 
has  saved  the  ball,  and  says  he  shall  kill  a  Yankee  with  it, 
if  (  ?)  he  lives  to  get  well."  Please  report,  John  ;  'tis  some 
years  since. 

As  we  landed  at  the  New  Berne  wharf,  a  darkey  woman, 
whose  white  hair  betokened  great  age,  came  dancing  forward 
with  exuberance  of  joy,  and,  grasping  the  author  by  both 
arms,  exclaimed,  "  Bress  de  Lord,  Massa !  Ize  ben  prain 
fur  uze  dese  forty  years  !  I  taut  uze  nebber  comin  tall !  But 
uze  come  at  las  !  Bress  de  Lord  !  Bress  de  Lord  !  !  "  Her 
features  were  suffused  with  joy  during  this  effervescence, 
and  the  loose  planks  of  the  wharf  kept  time  with  her  dance 
and  gesticulations.  It  was  a  simple  faith  which  recognized 
the  providence  of  God  in  the  fruition  of  a  long-deferred  hope. 
The  belief  of  the  negroes  in  such  intervention  was  as  strongly 
shown  in  an  incident  a  few  moments  later.  A  man  was  evi- 


YANKEE    AND   REBEL    EDITORS.  95 

dently  making  the  best  of  the  last  opportunity  to  escape, 
and  was  well  out  beyond  where  our  fortifications  were  after 
wards  placed,  when  a  shell  thrown  over  the  city  by  our  guns, 
buried  itself  in  the  ground,  and  exploded  just  behind  him, 
covering  him  with  dust  and  dirt.  A  darkey  near  us,  who 
had  been  intently  watching  him,  exclaimed,  "  Judy,  se 
dar  !  Dars  Massa  runnin  awa,  an  de  wengence  of  de  Lord 
is  arter  him  !  " 

The  New  Berne  "Progress,"  a  paper  published  at  New 

Berne  by "  Pendleton,"  previous  to  our  occupation 

of  the  place,  was  placed  under  the  care  of  George  Mills  Joy, 
a  member  of  the  Twenty-Third  Mass.  Regt. ,  and  formerly 
in  the  employ  of  the  "  Hampshire  Gazette,"  of  Northampton. 
The  following  was  in  type  :  — 

"The  signals  on  the  Neuse  River,  below  our  batteries,  gave 
notice  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy  3'esterday  afternoon  about  five 
o'clock.  A  boat  was  immediately  despatched  clown  the  river,  and, 
on  its  return,  we  were  placed  in  positive  information  of  the  presence 
of  ten  steamers  and  one  large  transport  (schooner)  in  the  river, 
only  twelve  miles  below  New  Berne,  and  in  a  few  miles  of  the 
blockade.  Everything  was  active,  and  preparations  were  busy 
here  last  night,  and  a  battle  is  expected  to-day,  and  the  clay  will 
probably  decide  the  fate  of  New  Berne." 

To  this,  Editor  Joy  added  :  — 

;i>  Friday  did  it !  We  have  taken  New  Berne.  The  enemy 
undertook  to  burn  the  town,  but  were  unsuccessful. 

"  YANKEE  PRINTER." 

The  rebel  editor  retired  to  Goldsboro,  and  issued  a  card, 
saying,  "  He  had  lost  all,  but  intended  to  reopen  again, 
if  Gen'l  Burnside  did  not  press  too  far  into  the  bowels  of  the 
State."  In  reply  to  Editor  Joy's  promise  in  his  first  issue, 
to  furnish  a  better-looking  sheet  as  soon  as  he  could  jjet 

O  «  O 

some  decent  paper,  he  caustically  replied,  "  It's  hard  enough 


96  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

to  rob  a  man  of  all  his  money,  without  cursing  the  style  of 
his  currency." 

The  Wilmington  "Journal,"  in  commenting  on  the  mis 
fortunes  of  North  Carolina,  said,  "  The  day  is  dark,  but  we 
must  face  the  music.  .  .  .  It  is  about  as  unprofitable 
commenting  on  such  events  as  whistling  to  mile-stones." 

Upon  the  occupancy  of  the  city,  Gen'l  Burnside  appointed 
Gen'l  Foster  Military  Governor  of  the  State  of  North  Caro 
lina,  with  headquarters  at  New  Berne  ;  Gen'l  Foster  appointed 
Capt.  Daniel  Messenger  provost-marshal  of  the  place ;  and 
upon  these  officers  devolved  the  execution  of  the  laws  and 
the  protection  of  property,  with  plenary  power  in  all 
breaches  of  civil  or  military  law.  Stringent  regulations  for 
trade  in  conquered  parts  of  insurrectionary  States  had  already 
been  issued  through  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  these 
depended  upon  the  loyalty  and  vigilance  of  provost-marshals 
for  execution.  The  persons  and  property  of  all,  if  not  de 
serted,  were  respected,  and,  where  needed,  guards  were 
placed  for  their  protection.  All  civilians  were  obliged  to 
prove  identity  before  the  provost-marshal,  and  no  one  allowed 
to  move  about  the  city  without  a  pass,  except  officers  in  uni 
form  and  the  colored  people.  This  Was  too  much  for  "  poor 
shade,"  who  exclaimed,  "  Bress  de  Lord  an  Massa  Lincoln  ! 
Hallelujer  !  dat  dis  yer  ole  nigger  should  lib  to  see  dis  happy 
time,  when  white  folks  mus  hab  a  pass  to  go  bout,  and  dis 
nigger  wid  the  officer  can  go  whar  him  pleas  widout  one  ! 
Bress  de  Lord  !  ha  !  ha  !  !  ha  ! !  !  Juber  !  "  There  was  not 
the  least  demonstration  of  loyalty  or  Union  sentiment  with 
the  whites,  but  a  sullen  moroseness,  indicative  of  intense  dis 
loyalty.  Few  whites,  however,  remained,  and  these,  with 
only  a  few  exceptions,  were  of  the  lower  class,  with  little 
property  and  less  intelligence. 

March  15th,  Gen'l  Burnside  issued  the  following  congrat 
ulatory  order :  - 


CONGRATULATORY    ORDER.  97 

"  The  general  commanding  congratulates  his  troops  on  their 
gallant  and  hard- won  victory  of  the  14th.  Their  courage,  their 
patience,  their  endurance  of  fatigue,  exposure  and  toil,  cannot  be 
too  highly  praised.  After  a  tedious  march,  dragging  howitzers 
through  swamps,  and  a  sleepless  night  passed  in  a  drenching 
rain,  they  met  the  enemy  in  his  chosen  position,  protected  by 
strong  earthworks  mounting  many  and  heavy  guns  ;  and  although 
in  an  open  field  themselves,  they  conquered. 

u  With  such  soldiers,  advance  is  victory.  The  commanding 
general  directs,  with  peculiar  pride,  that,  as  a  well-deserved  tribute 
to  valor,  in  this  second  victory  of  the  expedition,  each  regiment 
shall  inscribe  on  its  banner  the  memorable  name  New  Berne," 

Sunday,  the  16th,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving, 
all  the  churches  being  opened  for  public  worship.  Tbe 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  with  arms  and  equipments,  occu~ 
pied  the  First  Baptist  Church,  where  Chaplain  Sandford 
preached  his  farewell  sermon,  from  1  Sara,  iv,  9  ;  M  Be  strong, 
and  quit  yourselves  like  men," 


98  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  V. 

LIFE    IN    DIXIE. 

NEW  BERNE  is  the  third  city  of  importance  in  the  State,  and 
is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Neuse  and  Trent  rivers. 
These  form,  at  this  point,  a  stream  two  miles  wide,  with  a 
channel  nine  feet  deep  at  low  water,  permitting  direct 
communication  with  our  largest  ports.  With  Wilmington, 
it  holds  an  almost  absolute  monopoly  of  the  trade  in  tar, 
lesin,  and  turpentine,  which  are  its  chief  commodities. 
The  surrounding  country  is  a  dead  level,  interspersed  with 
dense,  marshy  forests,  but,  owing  to  the  laige  number  of 
turpentine  distilleries,  was  deemed  to  be  more  than  ordi 
narily  healthy.  The  city  is  regularly  laid  out,  boasts  of  five 
churches,  a  masonic  hall,  an  academy,  a  theatre,  two  hotels, 
and  a  jail.  It  is  the  county  seat  of  Craven  County,  and  in 
time  of  peace,  must  have  had  a  population  of  about  seven 
thousand.  The  place  was  of  special  importance  to  the 
enemy  for  its  manufacture  of  ordnance,  as  a  shipping  port, 
and  as  controlling  the  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Kail- 
road. 

March  17th,  Gen'l  Foster  issued  the  following  congratu 
latory  order  to  his  brigade  :  — 

DEPARTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE. 

NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  March  17,  1862. 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  11. 

Gen'l  Fuster  again  congratulates  bis  brigade  on  the  brilliant 
victory  in  which  they  participated,  and  by  their  steadiness  and 
valor  contributed  so  much  to  win  ;  and  renews,  most  sincerely,  his 


»^»ftfal 


D  E   PT. 

of 

NORTH  CAROLiN/ 

for 

TWENTY  SEVENTH.MASS';  R  EGT. 
HISTORY. 

•SCALE  °f-i  t    ..  ,i ,  i  !?,>    .  ,i   ..I'    Miuts 


CAMP   WARNER.  99 

thanks  for  the  endurance  of  hardship,  steadiness,  coolness  under 
fire,  and  willing  and  prompt  obedience,  shown  b}'  all  from  the 
moment  of  landing. 

The  test  was  more  severe  than  at  Roanoke  Island  ;  and  as  Gen'l 
Foster  judged  by  their  conduct  there  what  it  would  be  here,  it  is 
the  highest  praise  to  say  that  the  conduct  of  the  brigade  equalled 
or  surpassed  his  expectations.  He  hopes  and  believes  that  each 
successive  action  will  but  add  to  the  laurels  alreacty  won  by  the 
brigade  he  is  proud  to  command. 

By  command  of 

BKIG.  GEN'L  J.  G.  FOSTER. 
SOUTHARD  HOFFMAN, 

Assistant  Adj't-Gcn'l. 

The  same  day  on  which  this  order  was  issued,  we  reno 
vated  and  remodelled  our  captured  camp,  after  which  it  was 
known  as  "  Camp  Warner,"  in  honor  of  Lieut.  George 
Warner,  wounded  the  14th  inst.  It  was  situated  upon  what 
was  known  as  the  "  North  Carolina  Fair  Grounds,"  and  was 
furnished  with  Sibley  tents.  The  tents,  when  captured, 
were  supplied  with  floors  and  bunks,  and  with  bedding 
and  comfortables,  all  of  which  were  acceptable  to  us  on 
account  of  our  loss  at  Hatteras.  Our  camp  had  a  border 
of  juniper  trees  upon  three  sides,  which  afforded  grate 
ful  shade,  while  it  was  sufficiently  elevated  to  secure  good 
drainage.  It  was  near  by  the  city  and  the  Neuse  River ; 
and  was  not  only  the  best  camp  in  the  department,  but 
also  the  best  we  had  during  the  war.  The  Seventh  North 
Carolina  Kegt. ,  its  former  occupants,  had  determined  to  defend 
their  camp,  and  upon  the  day  of  the  battle,  had  formed  in 
front  for  its  defence,  but  a  shell  from  our  guns  caused  a 
reconsideration  and  a  hasty  adjournment.  A  full  set  of  band 
instruments  captured  in  this  camp  were  presented  by  Gen'l 
Burnside  to  the  regiment. 

March  20th,  Companies  D,  F,  H  and  K,  under  command 
of  Major  Bartholomew,  advanced  up  the  railroad  nine  miles 


100  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

to  Bachelor's  Creek,  driving  the  enemy's  cavalry  before 
them,  and  burning  the  railroad  bridge.  Here  they  remained, 
with  foul  weather  and  fowl  living,  until  the  23d,  when  they 
were  relieved  by  the  Twenty-Third  Mass.  Regt.,  and 
returned  to  Camp  Warner.  Meantime,  the  Third  Brigade 
under  Gen'l  Parke,  marched  down  the  railroad  to  Beaufort, 
thirty-six  miles  distant,  investing  that  place  and  Fort  Macon  ; 
while  the  Twenty- Fourth  Mass,  occupied  Washington, 
N.  C.,  without  opposition. 

March  25th,  Col.  Lee  and  Capt.  Fuller  went  North  on 
a  "  leave  of  absence,"  attended  by  First  Lieut.  Mark  H. 
Spaulding  and  Second  Lieut.  Edwin  C.  Clark  of  Company 
A,  both  of  whom  had  resigned  their  commissions.  The  last 
two  were  men  of  large  experience,  mature  judgment, 
undoubted  courage,  and  exact  in  detail  and  discipline.  The 
regiment  could  ill  afford  to  spare  such  officers,  and  to  the 
company  the  loss  seemed  irreparable.  Most  of  the  men 
enlisted  by  them,  embraced  the  opportunity  because  of 
their  confidence  in  them.  There  was  no  disposition  to  ques 
tion  the  sufficiency  of  their  reasons,  yet  it  was  felt  the 
misfortune  should  have  been  averted.  Lieut.  Spaulding 
was  one  of  the  earliest  adventurers  in  California,  his  experi 
ence  amidst  lynch  law  and  vigilance  committees  developing 
a  cool,  calculating  spirit,  equal  to  any  emergency,  and 
furnishing  him  abundant  resources  to  cope  with  more  than 
ordinary  difficulties.  He  returned  to  Northampton,  crowned 
with  success,  and,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion,  was 
junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Stockwell  &  Spaulding. 
He  was  more  like  our  noble  Capt.  Sanford,  whose  actions 
were  a  glorious  legacy  to  our  regiment.  Lieut.  Spaulding's 
services  at  Hatteras  were  of  inestimable  value  to  the  expedi 
tion,  and  his  presence  on  the  field,  conspicuous  and  inspir 
ing. 

Lieut.  Clark  had  large  executive  ability,  was  strict  in 
discipline,  and  watchful  of  every  interest  of  his  command. 


OFFICERS  OF  Co.  A. 


Captain  MARK  H.  SPAULDING. 


Captain  EDWIN  C.  CLARK. 


Captain  HENRY  C.  DWIGHT. 


Lieutenant  W.  CHAPIN   HUNT. 


Lieutenant  JOHN  H.  JUDD. 


OFFICERS    OF    COMPANY    A.  101 

He  was,  from  mustering  until  his  resignation,  unremitting 
in  duty  and  valorous  upon  the  field.  He  sought  no  prefer 
ment,  but  acted  from  principle,  without  regard  to  reward  or 
consequences.  Later  in  the  war,  both  of  these  officers 
served  under  higher  commissions  in  the  Fifty-Second  Mass. 
Regt.,  and  since  their  return,  have  been  honored  with  the 
highest  offices  in  the  gift  of  their  constituents. 

Fortunately  for  Company  A,  there  was  one  in  the  regi 
ment,  by  birth  and  association  allied  with  them,  who 
was  a  natural  leader,  of  courage  and  ability,  and  to  him 
the  command  fell.  Heniy  C.  D wight  of  Northampton, 
upon  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  consented  to 
serve  as  sergeant-major,  but  December  7th,  had  been  commis 
sioned  as  a  second  lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  Company  H. 
Waiving  the  conventionalities  of  promotion,  Col.  Lee,  with 
undoubted  wisdom  and  sagacity,  appointed  him  as  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  A,  while  Orderly  Sergt.  John  P. 
Blakernan,  of  the  same  company,  was  commissioned  second 
lieutenant. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  March  30th,  communion 
services  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  presided 
over  by  Chaplains  Horace  James  of  the  Twenty-Fifth,  and 
Jonas  Clark  of  the  Twenty-Third  Massachusetts  Regiments. 
The  sanctity  of  the  hour,  the  place,  the  occasion,  the  causes 
for  gratitude,  for  repentance,  for  consecration,  were  all 
subjects,  which,  under  the  inspired  and  ready  tongue  of 
Chaplain  James,  gave  a  solemnity  rarely  experienced. 

A  few  days  before,  we  stood  upon  the  riven  field,  amidst 
the  mad  storm  of  battle,  fearless  and  defiant ;  to-day,  how 
changed  the  scene  !  The  cheers  of  victory  were  hushed, 
and,  oblivious  of  rank,  the  victors  were  bowing  reverently 
before  the  "  God  of  battles,"  acknowledging  the  hand  that 
had  shielded  and  gotten  them  the  victory.  Although  the 
church  was  full,  none  but  men  were  there  ;  but  a  united 
prayer  ascended  that  the  Saviour  would  reveal  himself  to  the 


102  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

dear  ones  at  home  in  that  hour,  and  that  his  comforting  pres 
ence  and  support  might  be  afforded  those  who  mourned  the 
loss  of  our  fallen  brave.  To  live  consistently  at  home  in 
volved  much,  in  the  army  immensely  more  ;  and  Christian 
resources  were  often  put  to  the  severest  tests.  It  should 
hardly  be  said  that  army  experiences  made  bad  men ;  it 
rather  stripped  the  mask  from  those  inclined  to  evil,  while  it 
strengthened  and  ennobled  those  acting  from  principle. 
Privacy  in  devotional  exercises  was  out  of  the  question,  and 
these  duties  mu<t  be  performed  —  if  at  all — amongst,  and 
unscreened  from,  the  eyes  of  heedless  comrades,  who,  per 
haps,  at  that  moment  were  engaged  in  the  pleasures  and 
heated  disputes  of  games.  There  were  those  among  us  who 
braved  this  ;  they  maintained  irreproachable  lives,  and  by 
example  were  a  constant  restraint  upon  others.  To  the 
credit  of  our  army  be  it  said,  difficulties  in  these  matters 
arose  from  heedlessncss  rather  than  heartless  opposition ;  for 
honest  convictions  were  always  respected. 

Eligible  hospital  accommodations  were  secured  in  the 
suburbs  of  the  city,  consisting  of  a  row  of  cottages  with  com 
fortable  grounds  and  shade.  This  enabled  our  surgeons  to 
classify  and  separate  our  sick  and  wounded,  which  arrange 
ment  materially  enhanced  the  comfort  and  recovery  of  our 
invalids.  During  the  warm  season  the  grounds  were  pro 
fuse  with  flowers,  filling  the  air  with  fragrance,  and  bounti 
fully  supplying  the  sick-rooms  with  bouquets.  March  27th, 
Assistant  Surgeon  Samuel  Camp  resigned  his  commission  on 
account  of  sickness.  His  thorough  knowledge  of  medicine 
and  intense  application  to  the  welfare  of  the  men,  had  ren 
dered  him  invaluable  to  the  regiment.  Pie  was  born  at  Nor 
folk,  Conn.,  May  5,  1829,  and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the 
University  of  New  York,  in  March,  1851.  He  followed  his 
profession  five  years  in  New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  and  three 
years  in  St.  Joseph,  Mich.,  being  located  at  Great  Barring- 
ton,  Mass,  at  the  opening  of  the  war.  Upon  his  resignation 


SANITARY   REGULATIONS.  103 

he  returned  to  the  last  named  place,  where  he  still  resides, 
possessed  of  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

Our  hospital  department  consisted  of  one  steward,  with 
seven  assistants,  and  was,  in  character,  ability  and  success, 
a  credit  to  the  regiment,  and  the  good  sense  which  dictated 
the  selection.  It  would  be  a  sufficient  encomium  for  any  sim 
ilar  organization,  to  say  it  was  its  equal.  There  was  not 
opportunity  to  bestow  the  care  of  home  ;  but  it  was  intelli 
gent  and  faithful,  and  as  constant  as  the  multitude  of  the  cases 
allowed. 

The  sanitary  condition  of  the  camp  and  men  was  care 
fully  attended  to  by  Col.  Lyman  and  Surgeon  Otis.  The 
tents  were  frequently  struck,  to  expose  the  ground  to  the 
defecating  rays  of  the  sun,  while  the  regiment  was  as  often 
marched  to  the  river  for  a  bath.  Negro  "pie  pedlers " 
were  forbidden  entrance  to  the  camp,  and  the  use  of  such 
trash  discountenanced.  To  counteract  malaria,  a  gill  per 
man  of  "quinine  and  whiskey"  was  issued  each  morning, 
and  where  principle  intervened  with  some,  others  were 
sufficiently  elastic  (or  generous?)  to  accommodate  the  addi 
tional  ration. 

If  we  had  endured  hardships,  we  now  enjoyed  comparative 
ease  and  comfort.  A  line  of  steamers  connected  us  with 
the  outside  world,  furnishing  —  irregularly  —  mails,  and  the 
"  latest  from  the  seat  of  war''  by  New  York  papers.  Large 
numbers  of  speculators,  under  special  permits  from  the 
Treasury  Department,  flocked  to  the  place  ;  and  anything 
desired  could  be  obtained.  We  Avere  favored  with  visits  from 
friends  at  home,  amongst  whom  was  Rev.  Mark  Trafton, 
father  of  Lieut.  John  W.  Trafton,  of  Company  E,  who  said 
he  thanked  God  the  "Mayflower"  did  not  drift  to  Southern 
shores,  for  then  the  sterile,  rock-bound  shores  of  New  Eng 
land  would  have  had  no  attractions,  and  we  should  have 
missed  the  stalwart,  iron  men,  which  their  sterility  has 
given  us.  An  Alabamian  told  him,  lie,  could  conquer  a  whole 


104  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

regiment  of  Yankees  by  offering  them  a  price  for  their  guns  ; 
but  they  were  now  finding  that,  while  we  had  an  eye  to  busi 
ness,  there  were  two  things  we  would  not  barter,  home  or 
principle. 

About  this  time  we  were  in  receipt  of  large  numbers  of 
letters  from  friends  in  the  Tenth  Mass.  Regt., — then  sta 
tioned  at  Camp  Brightwood  near  Alexandria,  Va., — com 
plaining  of  the  favoritism  by  which  a  new  regiment 
—  raised  months  after  they  had  gone  to  the  front  —  were 
permitted  to  glean  high  honors  on  the  field,  while  they  were 
in  enforced  idleness.  It  was  a  little  strange  ;  but  this  source 
of  discontent  was  soon  after  removed,  and  from  the  other 
extreme  they  were  somewhat  excusable  for  desiring  a  more 
satisfactory  mean. 

April  1st  the  regiment  went  up  the  railroad  on  picket, 
leaving  Company  B  to  guard  the  camp.  Our  lines  were  now 
extended  seven  miles  from  New  Berne,  and  by  active  scout 
ing  the  enemy  were  kept  at  a  safe  distance. 

On  the  6th,  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry  charged  within  a 
short  distance  of  our  camp  at  the  outpost,  but  finding  us  on 
the  qui  vive  disappeared  with  equal  celerity.  Our  supplies 
were  mostly  obtained  from  the  country.  Coons,  possums, 
calves,  pigs,  and  fowl  were  plenty — (at  first?) — though 
the  last  were  always  the  special  property  of  the  "  old 
woman."  The  complaint  of  the  owners  at  their  disappear 
ance  received  similar  comfort  to  that  afforded  one  later 
by  an  officer  of  one  of  the  regiments.  "Vat  —  all  your 
shicken  gone  ?  You  mays  be  tankful  it  was  no  mo  !  Shust 
you  march  so  much,  an  fights  so  hard,  an  has  no  mo  than 
my  mens,  —  I  tinks  you  takes  a  little  shicken  too  !  "  There 
was  no  loyalty  among  citizens,  except  as  artfully  shown  to 
defend  some  interest.  They  were  in  constant  sympathy  and 
collusion  with  the  rebels.  The  enemy  were  reported  twenty 
thousand  strong  at  Kinston,  intending  to  attack  us  at  once  ; 
but  if  such  an  intention  existed,  the  arrival  of  the  Seventeenth 


CAMDEN  AND  FORT  MACON.  105 

Massachusetts,  One  Hundred  and  Third  New  York,  Forty- 
Eighth  Pennsylvania,  and  Second  Maryland,  with  the  Third 
New  York  Artillery  and  Third  New  York  Cavalry  regi 
ments,  April  2d,  must  have  seriously  disturbed  their  plans. 

April  7th,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was  relieved  at 
Bachelor's  Creek  by  the  Seventeenth  Mass.,  and  returned  to 
Camp  Warner,  the  remainder  of  the  month  being  occupied 
with  camp  duties  and  drills.  Gen'l  Reno,  with  the  Twenty- 
First  Massachusetts  and  Fifty-First  Pennsylvania,  sailed  from 
New  Berne  the  17th  inst.,  taking  on  detachments  of  the 
Sixth  New  Hampshire,  and  Ninth  and  Eighty-Ninth  New  York 
regiments  at  Roanoke  Island,  and,  upon  the  20th,  surprised 
the  enemy  at  Camden,  N.  C.,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  thunder 
storm.  The  Ninth  New  York  charged  without- orders,  and 
were  met  by  a  severe  fire,  causing  them  to  throw  themselves 
upon  the  field  to  escape  loss,  when  the  Twenty-First  Mass. ,  and 
Fifty -First  Penn.  charged  to  their  .relief,  routing  the  enemy 
and  capturing  two  pieces  of  artillery  with  a  few  prisoners. 
Our  loss  was  fourteen  killed  and  ninety-six  wounded,  mostly 
of  the  Ninth  New  York.  The  position  assailed  was  in  the 
rear  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  and  only  eighteen  miles  therefrom. 
Because  of  the  danger  of  attack  by  a  superior  Confederate 
force,  the  place  was  evacuated  during  the  night.  The  move 
ment  caused  consternation  at  Norfolk,  and  hastened  its  evacu 
ation  by  the  Confederates,  which  was  accomplished  the  10th 
of  May. 

Meantime  the  investment  of  Fort  Macon  had  progressed 
favorably  under  Gen'l  Parke,  who  demanded  its  surrender 
the  24th  inst.  This  being  refused,  our  batteries  opened  upon 
it  the  25th,  and  after  a  bombardment  of  ten  hours,  Col.  Moses 
J.  White,  its  commander,  a  nephew  of  Jefferson  Davis,  and 
three  hundred  and  twenty  men,  surrendered  themselves,  and 
the  fort,  with  sixty-five  guns  and  its  military  stores.  This 
fort  was  one  of  the  most  important  and  costly  on  the  Atlantic 
coast,  being  second  in  importance  to  Fortress  Monroe  and 


106  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

* 

Fort  Sumter.  It  was  a  large,  low,  pentagonal,  casemated 
brick  structure,  covered  with  a  heavy,  sodded  embankment 
of  earth.  The  guns  were  en  barbette,  and  consisted  of 
sixty  ten-inch  guns,  with  one  one-hundred-twenty-eight 
pounder  Columbiad.  Encircling  the  fort,  and  half  its 
height,  was  a  huge  rampart  of  earth,  with  a  broad,  gentle 
slope  towards  the  outside ;  and  from  its  parapets  guns 
frowned  upon  the  adjacent  fields.  The  whole  stood  on  a 
hummock  of  sand  upon  Bogue  Island,  just  at  the  entrance 
of  Beaufort  harbor  ;  and  commanded  Old  Topsail  Inlet,  about 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  wide. 

At  the  time  of  its  capture  it  was  garrisoned  by  the  Atlantic 
Artillery  ;  Battery  B,  Tenth  Artillery  ("  Woodpecks  ")  ;  and 
three  companies  of  rebel  infantry.  The  Union  force  accredited 
with  this  victory  was  the  Fourth  and  Fifth  Rhode  Island  and 
Eighth  Connecticut  Regiments,  with  Ammon's  Battery  I, 
Third  New  York  Artillery.  By  saps  and  approaches  they 
succeeded  in  placing  batteries  within  fourteen  hundred  yards 
of  the  fort,  and  after  about  three  weeks'  preparation  forced 
its  surrender. 

The  threatening  attitude  and  increase  of  the  enemy's  forces 
in  North  Carolina,  as  well  as  the  plans  of  the  commanding 
general,  necessitated  the  making  of  New  Berne  as  a  base  of 
supplies,  secure  against  any  contingency,  and  this  work  was 
assigned  to  the  skill  and  care  of  Gen'l  Foster.  At  the  rear 
of  New  Berne  the  distance  from  the  Neuse  to  the  Trent 
River  was  about  a  mile,  across  which  neck,  during  the  month, 
Gen'l  Foster  constructed  a  cordon  of  fortifications,  with  Fort 
Rowan  at  the  railroad  and  Fort  Totten  at  the  county  road. 
These  works,  with  the  flanks  well  protected  by  gun-boats 
stationed  in  the  river  enfilading  the  field,  rendered  our  posi 
tion  safe  against  attack  in  this  direction.  The  same  pecu 
liarity  existed  south  of  the  Trent,  with  Forts  Amory  and 
Gaston,  so  that  the  place  was  a  citadel,  the  character  and  ex 
tent  of  its  defences  insuring  it  from  attack;  and,  though  at 


FORT    TOTTEN.  107 

different  times  the  enemy  drove  our  forces  to  the  intrench- 
ments,  they  always  withdrew  without  assaulting  them. 

Fort  Totten  was  the  most  formidable  work.  It  was  a 
pentagon,  covering  nearly  seven  acres,  with  parapets  eight 
feet  high  and  twelve  feet  thick.  This  massive  embankment 
was  revetted  from  the  bottom  of  the  slope  in  the  ditch 
with  sods,  one  on  the  other,  to  the  depth  of  eighteen 
inches,  and  the  embrasures  with  wicker  baskets  filled  with 
sand.  A  huge  parapet  of  earth  and  logs  was  constructed  on 
the  terra  pi eine  of  the  fort,  thirty-five  feet  high,  twenty-eight 
feet  thick  and  four  hundred  feet  long,  to  shelter  the  giirrison 
in  case  of  bombardment.  On  the  top  of  this  huge  parapet 
was  a  series  of  rifle-pits  for  the  use  and  protection  of  sharp 
shooters.  The  ramparts  were  protected  from  enfilading 
fires  by  traverses,  and  complete  control  of  the  field  secured 
by  bastions  at  each  angle.  The  armament  of  the  fort  con 
sisted  of  twenty-eight  guns,  mostly  naval  thirty-two  pounders 
and  sixty-four  pound  Columbiads,  the  exceptions  being  two 
one  hundred  pound  Parrotts,  rifled. 

On  the  1st  of  May  our  new  chaplain,  Rev.  C.  L.  Wood- 
worth,  of  the  South  Amherst  Congregational  Church,  re 
ceived  a  hearty  welcome  to  the  regiment.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  s:iy  that  he  was  all  a  chaplain  could  be, — genial,  sympa 
thetic,  approachable;  attached  to  his  work  and  zealous  for 
the  welfare  of  the  regiment.  As  an  earnest,  consecrated 
worker,  a  clear  expositor  and  a  pathetic  pleader,  he  had  no 
superior ;  while  his  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  his  good 
common  sense  well  fitted  him  for  his  work.  He  was  sure  to 
present  himself  at  the  tent  when  least  expected,  with  a 
hearty  "  Good  morning  !  how  are  you,  boys?"  and  made  free 
use  of  the  hospitalities  extended  him. 

May  3d,  we  broke  camp  and  marched  to  Bachelor's  Creek, 
relieving  the  Twenty-Third  Mass,  from  outpost  duty.  This 
post  had  suffered  severely  from  a  guerrilla  warfare,  resulting 
in  frequent  wounding  or  death  to  members  of  the  Twenty- 


103  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Third.  Expeditions  were  at  once  set  in  motion  for  Tuscarora 
and  other  points,  and  a  system  of  scouting  and  reconnoissance 
adopted  which  soon  created  a  respect  and  wholesome  fear  for 
the  Twenty-Seventh.  During  our  years  of  service,  much  of 
which  was  occupied  in  outpost  duty,  we  never  deserted  a 
post  or  lost  a  man,  killed,  wounded  or  taken  prisoner  while 
on  picket  duty.  Othor  parts  of  our  lines  were  subjected  to 
attack  and  loss,  but  ic/terever  the  Twenty-Seventh  was,  the 
pickets  were  unassailed.  Our  camp  was  situated  south  of 
the  railroad  and  easterly  of  the  creek,  the  latter  running 
through  a  deep,  wooded  ravine.  Grounds  were  cleared  and 
graded,  stumps  removed,  wells  dug,  cook-houses  built;  and 
when  our  new  Sibley  tents  were  received,  the  camp  was  in 
spected  by  Genl  Foster  and  pronounced  perfect  in  equip 
ment,  appearance  and  comfort.  Seven  miles  of  unbroken 
forest  separated  us  from  the  fields  of  New  Berne,  and  which 
ever  way  we  turned  it  was  marsh,  thickets  and  Avoods,  from 
whose  depths  came  the  delicious  fragrance  of  the  magnolia 
and  the  warble  of  the  matchless  mocking-birds.  Daylight 
and  darkness  was  redolent  with  perfume,  and  there  was  not 
an  hour  when  the  mocking-bird's  song  could  not  be  heard  in 
the  forest. 

Just  beyond  our  outposts  at  Tuscarora  was  a  family 
named  Davis,  who  were  always  willing  to  furnish  refresh 
ments  for  a  consideration.  One  day,w7hen  Lieut.  Hunt  was 
in  charge  of  the  outposts,  he  placed  Sergt.  Peck  upon 
picket  near  this  plantation.  The  sergeant  was  very  consid 
erate  of  the  wants  of  the  inner  man,  and  when  Lieut.  Hunt 
returned  to  this  part  of  the  line,  he  found  the  former  had 
been  to  Davis's  house,  and  ordered  what  he  termed  "  a  stom 
ach  distender  for  two."  Sergt.  Peck's  appetite  and  liber 
ality  got  the  best  of  his  scruples,  and  he  invited  the  lieu 
tenant  to  the  feast ;  an  invitation  promptly  accepted. 

They  had  nearly  finished  their  repast,  when  a  sudden  roar 
and  rattle,  as  of  heavy  guns  and  musketry,  was  heard. 


BEYOND    THE    LINES.  109 

Grasping  their  arms  and  equipments,  which  had  been  laid 
aside  for  the  occasion,  they  unceremoniously  rushed  out  of 
doors,  cleared  the  fences  and  fields,  expecting  each  moment 
another  volley  or  a  demand  to  surrender.  As  they  reached 
the  post,  with  an  appearance  of  anything  but  an  orderly 
retreat,  one  of  the  pickets  called  out,  "  Hallo?  What's  your 
hurry?  Why  didn't  you  stay  until  after  the  shower?" 
Sure  enough,  while  they  had  been  engaged  at  the  table,  one 
of  those  famous  thunder-clouds  had  overcast  the  sky,  from 
which  a  crashing  stroke  had  come,  resulting  in  their  discom 
fiture.  It  was  some  time  before  these  two  officers  were 
allowed  to  forget  this  dinner,  and  the  "  old  man  Davis"  often 
glibly  referred  to  it  as  "  the  attack  on  the  pickets." 

At  one  time,  when  guerrilla  farmers  were  particularly 
annoying,  a  squad  of  one  of  our  companies  followed  the  trail 
of  one  of  these  scoundrels  to  his  house.  A  horse  was  hitched 
conveniently  near,  but  the  owner,  from  a  lack  of  time,  was 
obliged  to  escape  without  it.  After  raiding  the  premises  and 
securing  all  the  bacon  and  poultry,  one  of  the  men  discovered 
a  large  and  well-filled  bee-hive.  There  was  a  sudden  rally  of 
the  command  for  consultation,  during  which,  one  of  the  men, 
with  an  eye  to  business,  pushed  the  hive  over  on  the  ground. 
As  a  business  venture  it  was  a  grand  success,  for  the  next 
moment  the  whole  squad  was  rolling  upon  the  ground,  or 
engaged  in  a  mad  race  for  camp.  They  lashed  themselves 
with  grass,  and  plunged  into  thickets  of  brush,  to  rid  them 
selves  of  the  enemy,  but  the  last  hum  was  not  heard  until 
every  marauder  was  fully  half  a  mile  from  that  house.  The 
boys  bragged  considerably  about  saving  the  bacon  and  poul 
try,  but  a  more  discomfited  set  of  men  never  entered  the 
camp  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  Such  eyes,  and 
such  monstrous  noses  and  thick  lips,  were  wonders  to  be 
hold. 

Our  connection  with  New  Berne  was  maintained  by  means 
of  a  "  hand  car,"  wrhich  ran  daily  to  the  city  with  mail  and 


110  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

despatches,  under  the  care  of  W.  P.  Derby,  postmaster  of 
the  regiment. 

It  was  not  all  trial  and  pain  in  the  army.  There  were 
hours  when,  in  the  leisure  of  camp,  games,  wit  and  rollicking 
humor  made  the  air  ring  with  boisterous  laughter,  and  the 
men  rolled  upon  the  ground  in  unsuppressed  merriment. 
There  was  the  story  of  the  scout  and  the  plunder  of  the 
foraging  party  to  be  discussed  over  smoking  viands,  which 
gave  a  relish  (oh!  go  away  dyspepsia!)  that  defied  the 
thought  of  "surgeon's  call."  There  were  new  stories  and 

O  o 

ne\v  experiences  for  each  day ;  new  plans  and  new  dis 
coveries,  new  expeditions  with  new  prisoners  and  new 
refugees.  There  was  the  hunting  the  possums  and  coons, 
the  trapping  of  game  and  fishing  of  streams,  besides  ever- 
changing  scenes  and  scenery.  The  enemy  Avere  an  illusion 
and  a  delusion  to  us,  "  and  were  averse  to  cultivating  an 
intimate  acquaintance."  We  could  see  them  daily  far  up 
the  track,  but  on  our  approach  they  hastily  disappeared; 
so  that  we  rarely  were  able  to  exchange  shots.  Few  days 
passed  in  which  black  smoke  was  not  ascending  somewhere 
on  our  front,  caused  by  the  enemy  burning  mills,  distilleries 
and  other  property.  We  were  given  to  understand  that  we 
should  not  return  to  New  Berne,  but  should  advance  into  the 
country;  hence  we  were  much  surprised  by  orders  to  return 
to  the  city  the  29th  inst. 

Our  campaign  in  North  Carolina  was  so  intimately  con 
nected  with  the  movement  in  Virginia  that  vital  changes  in 
our  operations  were  possible  at  any  moment.  Concentration 
at  this  time  was  necessary  with  us,  for  readiness  to  reinforce 
Gen'l  McClellan  upon  the  Peninsula  in  case  of  his  defeat ; 
for  defence,  should  the  enemy  be  defeated  and  driven  back 
into  North  Carolina,  as  seemed  probable  ;  or  to  enable  us  to 
promptly  co-operate  with  the  army  in  Virginia  by  advancing 
into  the  interior  of  the  State,  should  additional  troops  be 
furnished  the  department.  Gen'l  Burnside's  plans  contem- 


MILITARY    GOVERNOR.  Ill 

plated  these  emergencies,  even  to  the  extent  of  the  evacua 
tion  of  North  Carolina  and  of  attempting  to  hold  the  con 
quered  part  of  the  State  by  the  navy  alone.  This  last  was 
disapproved  of  by  the  authorities  at  Washington,  D.  C. 
During  the  month  large  numbers  of  Union  prisoners  arrived 
at  New  Berne  via  Washington,  N.  C.  These  were  mostly 
captured  at  Bull  Rim  and  Ball's  Bluff  in  1861.  Their 
features  and  clothing  corroborated  their  stories  of  privations 
and  wrongs.  Elegant  specimens  of  carving  in  wood  and 
bone  showed  how  they  had  whiled  the  tedious  hours  of  cap 
tivity  ;  and  were  liberally  purchased  by  us  to  relieve  their 
necessities. 

Intricate  questions  of  a  civil  nature  were  constantly  arising, 
embarrassing  and  burdensome  to  our  commander,  and  at  his 
request  for  a  military  governor,  lion.  Edward  Stanley,  a 
former  citizen  of  North  Carolina,  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln.  He  had  represented  the  State  in  Congress,  but  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  rebellion  was  living  in  California.  His  mis 
conception  of  his  duties  and  privileges,  or  a  want  of  loyalty 
to  them,  led  him  into  acts  so  antagonistic  and  culpable  as  to 
arouse  most  intense  indignation  in  the  department.  His  safe 
guards  were  in  the  hands  of  citizens,  soldiers  and  guerrillas 
within  and  outside  of  our  lines.  Provost  regulations  limit 
ing  the  kind  and  quantity  of  supplies  purchasable  by  any 
party  outside  the  lines,  were  prostituted  so  as  to  permit  one 
individual  to  purchase  for  as  many  others  as  would  send 
orders.  A  day  or  two  later  another  citizen  would  appear 
with  duplicate  orders  from  the  same  parties,  and  in  this 
way  immense  quantities  of  supplies  were  furnished  the 
enemy.  Colored  schools  were  discontinued,  and  all  slaves 
ordered  to  be  held  subject  to  the  demand  of  their  masters. 
So  subversive  was  the  power  exercised  by  Governor  Stanley, 
that,  after  eight  months  of  trial  he  was  removed  by  the 
President,  and  his  actions  annulled. 

The  month  had  been   one  of  great  activity  in  Virginia. 


112  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  commenced  its  advance  up 
the  Peninsula,  resulting  in  the  evacuation  of  Yorktown  ; 
while  Norfolk  had  been  abandoned  and  the  famous  "Mem- 
mac  "  had  ingloriously  suicided  at  Craney  Island  by  lowering 
its  flag,  and  committing  itself  to  the  flames.  Had  the 
"  Merrimac"  been  invulnerable,  and  so  anxious  to  renew  the 
conflict  which  was  so  often  declined  by  the  "  Monitor,''  why 
did  it  not  strike  at  its  cowardly  foe,  and  in  the  crucible  of 
battle  sustain  its  honor  and  the  waning  fortunes  of  its  cause. 
Too  much  had  been  claimed  ;  and  there  was  no  escape  from 
confession  but  in  suicide,  and  suicide  was  confession. 

About  midnight,  June  3d,  we  received  orders  to  be  ready 
to  move  at  an  hour's  notice,  with  three  days'  rations  ;  but 
these  were  countermanded  by  Gen'l  Foster,  and  the  Twenty- 
Fourth  Mass.  Volunteers  substituted,  in  view  of  our  constant 
service.  This  regiment  proceeded  by  steamer  to  Washing 
ton,  and,  the  5th  inst.,  marched  seven  miles  to  Trantor's 
Creek,  where  they  found  the  enemy  fifteen  hundred  strong, 
iu  command  of  Col.  Singletary.  The  Union  force  consisted 
of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  Company  I  Third  New  York 
Cavalry,  a  detachment  of  Marine  Artillery,  and  one  company 
of  the  First  North  Carolina  Union  Volunteers.  The  engage 
ment  lasted  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  when  the  enemy  were 
routed,  leaving  their  dead  upon  the  field.  Our  loss  was 
seven  killed  and  eleven  wounded,  but  would  have  been  much 
greater  but  for  the  use  of  malleable  iron  balls  by  the  enemy, 
which  struck  with  a  sharp  sting  and  fell  harmless  to  the 
ground.  It  was  a  rainy  day  and  answered  every  require 
ment  for  a  movement  in  our  department.  We  were  a  Coast 
Division,  selected  for  this  service  because  of  supposed 
familiarity  with  water,  and,  singularly,  we  never  moved  with 
out  a  good  supply  from  above  and  under  foot. 

June  17th,  companies  F  and  G,  with  a  detachment  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts  and  Tenth  Connecticut,  under 
Major  Bartholomew,  went  up  to  Core  Creek  to  take  the 


GRAND  REVIEW  OF  TROOPS.  113 

dimensions  of  the  railroad  bridge  and  report  on  the  condition 
of  the  road.  With  some  skirmishing,  they  drove  the  enemy 
five  miles  ;  found  the  rails  and  ties  removed  as  far  as  they 
could  see  ;  and,  accomplishing  their  work,  returned  without 
loss  in  a  heavy  thunderstorm,  followed  at  a  safe  distance  by 
the  enemy,  who  burnt  the  Tuscarora  station  before  retir 
ing. 

June  20th  was  a  gala  day  for  the  Department.  All  unnec 
essary  duties  were  suspended,  and  a  grand  review  was  held 
upon  the  south  of  the  Trent,  before  Gen'l  Burnside  andAdjt. 
Gen'l  Mauran  of  Rhode  Island  ;  after  the  completion  of  which, 
an  elegant  sword  was  presented  our  commanding  general  in 
behalf  of  the  Slate  of  Rhode  Island. 

The  troops  were  brigaded,  and  moved  in  the  following 
order :  — 

First    r>i  vision. 

Brig.  Gen'l  John  G.  Foster  commanding. 

First  Brigade,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  T.  J.  C.  Amory. —  Twenty- 
Fifth  Mass.,  Twenty-Third  Mass.,  Sixth  N.  H.,  Seventeenth 
Mass. 

Second  Brigade,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  Thomas  G.  Stevenson.  — 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Tenth  Conn.,  Ninth  N.  J.,  Twenty-Fourth 
Mass. 

Second    Division. 

Brig.  Gen'l  Jesse  L.  Reno  commanding. 

First  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  

Nagle.  —  Forty-Eighth  Penn.,  Eighth  Conn.,  One  Hundred  and 
Third  N.  Y.,  Second  Md. 

Second  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  Edward 
Ferrero.  — Twenty-First  Mass.,  Fifty-First  N.  Y.,  Fifty-First 
Penn.,  Eleventh  Conn. 


114  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


Third.    Division. 

Brig.  Gen'l  John  G.  Parke  commanding. 

First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  — — .  Fourth  R.  I., 

Fifth  R.  I.,  Eighty-Ninth  N.  Y.  (the  rest  of  this  division  was 
absent) . 

Belger's  Battery,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  Howard's  Marine  Artil- 
leiy,  and  the  Third  N.  Y.  Cavalry. 

The  formation  was  in  column  by  regiment,  each  regiment 
wheeling  into  line  by  companies  as  they  changed  direction 
for  review.  The  field  was  admirable  for  display,  and  the 
polished  arms  and  equipments  gave  an  almost  blinding  glare, 
which  enveloped  the  moving  column.  As  the  Twenty-Sev 
enth  nearecl  the  reviewing  officers,  Col.  Lee  gave  the  order, 
"Shoulder  arms!"  and  the  movement  was  executed  with 
marvellous  precision.  Every  cap- visor  was  at  "  front,"  every 
elbow  touched,  everjr  motion  was  steady,  every  step  sure,  as 
they  passed  before  the  stand  arid  to  the  field  beyond.  If  it 
was  not  perfection,  it  was  not  excelled,  and  no  one  blushed 
to  say  he  belonged  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regiment. 

The  review  ended,  the  troops  formed  a  hollow  square 
around  the  position  held  by  Gen'l  Burnside,  when  Gen'l 
Mauran  presented  the  sword,  in  a  terse  and  patriotic 
speech,  which  was  responded  to  by  Gen'l  Burnside,  who 
assured  him  that  his  command  would  ever  strive  to  merit  the 
high  encomiums  bestowed  by  him.  Singularly,  while  the 
sword  was  being  presented,  thunder  clouds  covered  the 
skies,  and  a  heavy  shower  fell  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Trent,  but  passed  us  unharmed.  As  the  sun  burst  through 
a  rift  in  the  cloud,  a  beautiful  rainbow  arched  the  field,  and 
from  the  writer's  position,  Gen'l  Burnside  and  staff  occupied 
the  centre  of  the  arc,  which  was  greeted  as  an  omen  of 
promise  for  our  commander  and  his  troops. 

On  the  26th,  Col.  Howard  of  the  Marine  Artillery,  with 
-Major  Bartholomew  and  Adjt.  Bartlett  as  "aids,"  made  a 


PREMATURE    REJOICINGS.  115 

reconnoissance  up  the  Neuse  River,  finding  no  enemy  until  at 
Streeter's  Landing. 

All  our  information  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
reassuring,  our  forces  being  within  sight  of  the  steeples  of 
Richmond.  Orders  were  therefore  issued  to  "be  ready  to 
move  on  short  notice,"  with  a  view  of  seizing  GoMsboro, 
and  intercepting  the  enemy  in  their  search  for  that  "last 
ditch,"  over  which  they  would  contend  until  every  male  and 
female  capable  of  bearing  arms  should  have  been  sacrificed. 
The  bustle  of  preparation  was  suddenly  stayed  July  1st,  by 
a  countermand  for  the  First  Division,  and  all  confidence  in 
our  shrewdness  dispelled,  by  seeing  the  Second  and  Third 
Divisions  embark  with  the  utmost  haste  and  disappear  down 
the  Neuse.  In  the  midst  of  our  speculations,  Gen'l  Burn- 
side  suddenly  reappeared,  with  news  of  the  capture  of  Rich 
mond,  followed  by  the  return  of  the  fleet  the  morning  of 
the  4th.  The  day  was  given  to  wild  rejoicings,  the  different 
regiments  parading  the  streets  amidst  ringing  of  bells  and 
salvos  of  artillery.  Mock  battles  were  fought  between  the 
regiments,  the  Rebs  always  ingloriously  defeated.  The  sun 
went  down  amid  a  deafening  roar,  and  during  the  evening, 
bonfires  of  tar  and  resin  made  the  whole  surroundings  light 

o        o 

as  day,  "And  all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." 

But  our  joys  were  transient,  for,  while  we  were  revelling, 
a  steamer  was  hastening  to  urge  forward  Gen'l  Burnside  to 
the  relief  of  our  army  upon  its  disastrous  retreat  to  Harri 
son's  Landing.  Upon  its  arrival,  consternation  succeeded 
exultation,  and  looks  inquired  more  forcibly  than  wrords, 
"  What  does  this  mean?" 

Col.  Rush  F.  Hawkins  of  the  Ninth  New  York,  command 
ant  at  Roanoke  Island,  had  learned,  the  2d  inst.,  through 
rebel  sources  considered  by  him  reliable,  of  the  capture  of 
Richmond,  and  had  despatched  the  steamer  "Alice  Price" 
to  inform  Gen'l  Burnside,  meeting  him  on  the  steamer 
"Highland  Light,"  en  route  for  Hatteras  with  his  fleet. 


116          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  information  being  in  accord  with  his  expectation,  Gen'l 
Burnside  at  once  returned  with  his  fleet  to  New  Berne. 

The  Second  and  Third  Divisions  having  remained  on  the 
steamer,  the  fleet  retraced  its  course  to  Hatteras  the  5th 
inst.  Thus  we  bade  adieu  to  Gen'l  A.  E.  Burnside  as  our 
commanding  general,  though  he  did  not  issue  his  farewell  to 
the  army  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  until  consid 
erably  later  as  will  appear  by  the  following  order  :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  NINTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

FREDERICKSBURG,  VA.,  Aug.  20,  1832. 

GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  15. 

The  commanding  general  on  retiring  from  the  department  of 
North  Carolina,  desires  to  express  his  deep  regret  at  taking  leave 
of  the  gallant  soldiers  who  have  been  his  comrades  through  so 
many  trials.  The  requirements  of  the  service  prevented  his  bid 
ding  them  farewell  in  person,  when  suddenly  called  to  other  scenes 
of  duty,  and  he  now  desires  to  pay  a  high  and  well-deserved 
tribute  to  their  discipline,  their  patience  and  their  courage.  In  the 
trying  scenes  at  Hatteras  Inlet  and  on  the  battle-fields  of  North 
Carolina,  these  soldiers'  virtues  were  fully  shown,  and  he  now  parts 
from  them  as  from  well-tried  friends  who  have  alwa3's  proved  true 
to  their  leaders  and  to  their  country,  and  on  whom  in  any  emer 
gency  he  could  always  rely. 

By  command  of  MAJOR-GENERAL  BURNSIDE. 
LEWIS  RICHMOND,  Asst.  Adjt-Gen'l. 

It  was  his  expectation,  at  the  time  of  his  departure,  to 
return  to  North  Carolina  as  soon  as  the  military  situation  in 
Virginia  should  allow. 

The  Department  of  North  Carolina  never  fulfilled  the 
original  plan  as  conceived  by  Gen'l  Burnside.  He  urged 
that  a  sufficient  force  be  thrown  into  this  State  so  that  an 
advance  might  be  made  on  Richmond  via  Weldon,  trans 
ferring  the  base  to  the  James  River  as  soon  as  practicable. 
Also  that  an  effective  army  in  North  Carolina  should  inter- 


GEN.  BURNSIDE'S  PLANS.  117 

cept  and  hold  the  lines  of  railroad,  and  by  cutting  off  their 
supplies,  oblige  the  insurgents  to  abandon  Virginia.  The 
Bermuda.  Hundreds  movement  of  1864,  made  under  Gen'l 
Grant's  approval,  was  little  more  than  the  accomplishing 
of  Burnside's  original  plan,  which  had  been  disapproved 
of  by  Gen'l  McCiellan.  It  was  intended  that  North  Carolina 
should  be  the  scene  of  aggressive  operations,  but,  from 
lack  of  sufficient  force,  it  became  simply  a  line  of  menace 
and  observation.  Even  "the  march  to  the  sea "  by  Gen'l 
Sherman,  was  only  a  grander  conception  than  that  of  Gen'l 
Burnside,  who  desired  such  forces  accumulated  atKnoxville, 
Tenn.,  under  Gen'l  Buell,  and  at  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  under 
himself,  as  would  enable  them  to  march  conjointly  on 
Raleigh,  and,  by  intercepting  all  sources  of  supply  to  the 
enemy,  transfer  the  contest  to  North  Carolina.  There  can 
be  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  was  better  that  the  rebel 
army  should  be  held  to  Virginia  for  its  final  overthrow,  than 
that,  with  contingent  results,  our  army  should  be  drawn 
further  from  its  base  of  supplies. 

The  departure  of  so  large  a  force  from  North  Carolina, 
necessitated  the  contracting  of  our  lines,  and  reorganization 
of  our  forces,  in  accomplishment  of  which,  the  troops  were 
brigaded  the  6th,  as  follows  :  — 

First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  H.  C.  Lee, 
commanding. 

Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Twenty-Third 
Mass.,  and  Tenth  Conn.  Regiments. 

Second  Brigade  First  Division,  Acting  Brig.  Gen'l  Thomas  G. 
Stevenson,  commanding. 

Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  Seventeenth  Mass.,  Fifth  R.  I.,  and 
Ninth  N.  J.  Regiments. 

This  well-merited  acknowledgment  of  Col.  Lee's  ability 
and  worth,  left  the  regiment  again  in  command  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Luke  Lyman. 


118  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  enemy's  force  in  North  Carolina  at  this  time,  con 
sisted  of  about  fifteen  thousand  men  under  Gen'I  Holmes  ; 
but  learning  of  the  withdrawal  of  a  large  force  from  New 
Berne,  they  despatched  about  twelve  thousand  men  to  rein 
force  Gen'I  Lee.  The  enemy  had  still  three  thousand  men  in 
the  vicinity  of  Kinston,  to  watch  an  equal  Union  force,  occu 
pying  a  line  of  over  three  hundred  miles,  from  Beaufort  via 
New  Berne  to  Washington,  Roanoke,  and  Plymouth. 

The  heat  was  intense,  with  frequent  and  terrific  storms  of 
lightning  and  wind.  On  the  night  of  July  26th,  one  of  the 
tents  of  Company  A  was  struck  by  lightning,  killing' Joseph 
A.  Birge  of  Northampton,  and  severely  shocking  Francis  A. 
Willard  and  Leonard  F.  Dunn,  of  the  same  town,  and  Wil 
liam  B.  Watts  of  Worthington.  All  of  these  men  had  been 
on  guard  that  night,  and  were  lying  with  their  guns  beside 
them,  and  bayonets  sheathed.  The  course  of  the  electric 
current  was  marked  on  their  persons  by  serpentine  lines  of 
red,  and  upon  the  guns  and  bayonets,  by  a  furrow  of  molten 
steel,  while  the  powder  of  all  the  cartridges  within  their 
cartridge-boxes  was  flashed.  The  only  trace  of  lightning 
upon  the  cartridges,  was  a  hole  the  size  of  a  pin  in  the  metal 
lic  case,  and  through  which  the  powder  had  flashed.  In  all 
the  tents  near  this  one,  the  bayonets  were  fixed,  and  the 
muskets  stacked  around  the  centre-pole  of  the  Sibley  tent. 
Under  supposed  rules  governing  electric  currents,  it  would 
seem  any  of  these  should  have  been  more  likely  to  suffer 
from  lightning  than  the  tent  upon  which  it  fell.  The  shock 
resulted  in  no  permanent  disability  to  Comrades  Dunn,  Wil 
lard  and  Watts,  all  of  them  serving  out  their  full  term  of 
enlistment. 

A  reconnoissance  was  made  by  troops  under  Col.  Lee  to 
Trenton,  the  force  consisting  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  and 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Belgers  Battery,  and  Companies  D, 
E,  II  and  L,  Third  New  York  Cavalry.  The  column  left 
New  Berne  at  four  P.M.,  July  25th,  but  before  reaching 


TRENTON    EXPEDITION.  119 

Deep  Gully,  large  numbers,  including  Capt.  Wilcox  and 
Lieut.  Bailey,  succumbed  to  the  extreme  heat.  The  next 
morning,  we  moved  cautiously  forward,  the  enemy's  videttes 
retreating  till  we  came  upon  their  picket  line,  four  miles 
from  Trenton.  About  two  miles  from  Trenton,  Major  Lewis 
of  the  cavalry  charged  upon  the  enemy,  driving  them  with 
out  loss  across  the  Trent  River,  where  they  made  a  stand, 
and  fired  the  bridge.  Our  infantry  at  once  charged,  driving 
the  enemy  from  their  position,  and  by  hard  work  extin 
guished  the  fire.  They  had  learned  of  our  intended  move 
ment,  and  evacuated  the  place  the  previous  day,  so  that  the 
object  of  the  expedition  at  this  point  was  frustrated.  Tren 
ton  would  hardly  be  called  a  village,,  though  it  contains  a 
court-house  and  jail,  and  boasts  of  being  the  county  seat  of 
Jones  County.  It  was  occupied  by  the  enemy  as  a  cavalry 
station,  and  was  favorably  located  for  incursions  upon  our 
lines,  upon  either  side  of  the  Trent. 

After  a  stay  of  five  hours,  we  marched  towards  Pollocks- 
ville,  camping  at  night  on  the  famous  Bill  McDonald  place. 
As  we  were  leaving  these  premises  in  the  morning,  some 
one  fired  their  mill  and  buildings  ;  nothing  but  the  stern  com 
mands  and  interference  of  Col.  Lee  preventing  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  principal  buildings.  At  Pollocksville,  we  joined 
another  column  which  had  come  up  on  the  south  of  the 
Trent  under  Lieut.  Col.  J.  F.  Fellows  of  the  Seventeenth 
Mass.,  and  together  we  returned  to  New  Berne  the  27th 
inst.,  with  a  loss  to  the  expedition  of  two  killed,  and  two 
wounded  and  prisoners.  The  march  of  fifty-three  miles  in 
fifty  hours,  and  in  midsummer  heat,  was  a  severe  tax  on 
our  endurance.  If  the  expedition  failed  in  its  object  at 
Trenton,  it,  however,  demonstrated  that  the  enemy  had  not 
sufficient  troops  in  North  Carolina  to  menace  our  position. 

The  Twenty-Third  Mass.,  serving  on  "provost  duty"  in 
New  Berne,  had  four  of  its  men  wounded  by  being  fired 
upon  by  inmates  of  houses  in  the  city.  At  half-past  nine 


120  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

P.M.,  the  25th  of  July,  another,  Michael  Galvin,  of  that 
regiment,  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  groin.  The  house 
was  immediately  surrounded  by  two  companies  of  the  Twen 
ty-Third,  and  six  men  and  one  woman  made  prisoners.  At 
nine  A.M.  the  26th,  the  Twenty-Third  Mass,  surrounded  the 
place,  and,  removing  a  part  of  the  underpinning,  attached 
ropes  to  the  house,  (a  large,  square,  two-story  building)  and 
pulled  it  over  upon  its  side,  the  whole  collapsing  in  a  mass 
of  debris,  and  a  cloud  of  dust,  while  their  band  struck  up 
the  inspiring  tune,  "  Bully  for  you  !  Bully  for  you  !  !  "  Not 
a  remnant  of  the  house  or  ft  nee  was  left  standing,  or  a 
brick  of  the  foundation  in  place.  The  regiment  had  evi 
dently  read  Peter  Henderson's  "  Gardening  for  Profit,"  par 
ticularly  on  "  cutting  back  ;"  for  no  sooner  were  the  buildings 
demolished,  than  the  spacious  grounds  were  swept  of  vege 
tables,  vines,  shrubs  and  trees,  and  a  more  desperate  pruning 
never  was  witnessed.  There  were  no  further  attempts  to 
shoot  guards  in  New  Berne. 

Companies  D  and  H  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regi 
ment,  left  Camp  Warner  for  outpost  duty  at  Bachelor's 
Creek,  the  21st  inst.  At  one  o'clock  A.M.,  the  28th  of 
July,  they  left  the  creek  under  command  of  Capt.  C.  D. 
Sandford,  accompanied  by  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  to  sur 
prise  the  enemy's  "cavalry  outpost"  at  "  Gum  Swamp." 
One  of  the  enemy's  videttes  was  discovered  about  daylight, 
who,  failing  to  discharge  his  carbine,  hastily  retreated  to 
warn  his  camp,  followed  by  Capt.  Sandford's  force  at  double- 
quick.  The  vidctte  had  barely  time  to  give  the  alarm, 
before  our  men  were  upon  them,  delivering  a  volley  into 
them  as  they  retreated  to\vards  Kinston.  This  volley  fright 
ened  the  horses  which  wore  tethered  near  by,  so  that  many 
broke  loose  and  escaped.  They  secured  twenty  horses, 
with  the  entire  camp  equipage,  stores  and  arms,  beside  nine 
prisoners  who  were  run  down  in  the  open  field  by  our  men. 
Beside  these,  the  enemy  lost  two  killed  and  two  wounded, 
while  our  companies  escaped  without  a  casualty. 


SCOUTING    BY    CAPT.    SANDFORD.  121 

August  17th,  Capt.  Sandford,  with  fifty  men  from  Compa 
nies  D  and  PI,  was  scouting  some  miles  beyond  the  creek, 
when  he  discovered  a  small  body  of  the  enemy  approaching. 
Secreting  himself  and  men  in  the  woods,  he  discovered  it 
to  be  a  "  flag:  of  truce,"  and  advanced  to  meet  it  with  five 

O 

of  his  men.  The  colonel  in  charge  of  the  flag  remarked, 
"Captain,  this  is  very  unfortunate  ;  were  it  not  for  this  flag, 
I  should  have  made  a  splendid  capture  this  morning ! " 
"Would  you?"  replied  Capt.  Sandford;  "let's  see!  For 
ward,  Twenty-Seventh  !"  when  his  force  suddenly  emerged 
from  the  brush,  with  loaded  arms  and  fixed  bayonets. 
"Ah!  "  responded  the  colonel,  "beg  your  pardon;  this 
alters  the  circumstances  !  "  "  Yes  !  "  retorted  Capt.  S.,  with 
a  suppressed  laugh,  "and  circumstances  alter  cases!" 
With  the  flag  of  truce  were  Misses  Adelaide  and  Adeline 
Wethcrby  of  Westminster,  Mass.,  Baskie  Kenfield  of  Hyde 
Park,  Vt.  and  Annie  O.  Wheeler  of  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 
Their  joy  seemed  unbounded  when  safely  in  our  care,  and 
their  fervent  love  for  the  old  flag  was  expressed  with  touch 
ing  pathos  and  tears.  They  could  not  have  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  a  more  perfect  soldier  or  gentleman,  and  through 
his  efforts  they  reached  their  homes  in  the  North. 

August  14th,  an  expedition  left  New  Berne  for  Swansbo- 
rough  to  destroy  the  salt  works  five  miles  from  that  place. 
They  returned  the  20th  inst.,  with  a  loss  of  one  wounded. 
There  was  only  twenty-five  bushels  of  salt  in  the  works  ; 
but  for  this  the  proprietor  begged  piteously,  claiming  that 
he  "only  made  a  little  for  his  own  use."  (  !  )  Pie  must 
have  been  "an  old  salt."  War  was  war,  however,  and  it 
was  all  confiscated,  and  the  proprietor's  works  destroyed. 

A  misfortune  befel  us,  in  common  with  the  entire  army, 
August  30th,  in  the  loss  of  our  band,  by  an  order  of  the  War 
Department,  which  allowed  but  one  band  for  a  brigade, — 
regiments  being  confined  to  martial  music.  The  morale  of 
our  band  had  been  unexceptional  from  the  outset,  and  the 


122  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

absence  of  the  familiar  strains  of  "Lee's  March,"  "Kate 
Kearney,"  and  "  Widow  Machree,"  revealed  how  much 
their  service  had  relieved  the  tedium  of  camp.  The  regi 
ment  also  lost  a  valuable  and  graphic  war  correspondent,  in 
Edwin  W.  Foster,  a  member  of  the  band.  Many  of  these 
men  afterward  enlisted  in  other  regiments,  and  served  with 
credit  to  themselves  and  the  State. 

The  intense  heat — often  at  one  hundred  and  ten  degrees 
in  the  shade  —  was  very  debilitating,  and  sentry-boxes  were 
constructed  along  the  guard  line,  to  screen  the  sentries  from 
the  burning  sun.  All  unnecessary  duty  was  suspended  in 
the  heat  of  the  day,  mornings  and  evenings  witnessing  great 
activity  in  the  camps  and  city.  With  the  utmost  care,  the 
regiment  suffered  severely  from  the  heat.  To  the  disabling 
loss  thus  sustained,  must  be  added  that  from  reckless  expen 
diture  for  pedler  and  sutler  supplies,  the  injurious  effects  of 
which  on  all  regiments  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  This 
assails  the  good  judgment,  rather  than  the  character  of  the 
troops,  and  the  kind  rather  than  quality  of  goods  obtained. 
Consumers  of  such  supplies  were  sure  to  be  candidates  for 
the  hospital,  and  for  an  early  discharge  or  premature  grave. 
It  would  be  most  unjust  to  charge  all  invalids  with  such 
improvidence,  but  it  was  an  aggravating  cause  of  many 
difficulties,  as  army  surgeons  will  testify.  It  is  safe  to  say 
no  officer  could  exercise  closer  surveillance  in  diet  and  sani 
tary  matters,  or  by  example  inculcate  the  principle  of  tem 
perance  in  all  things,  more  fully  than  our  commanding  offi 
cer,  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman. 

August  witnessed  the  gigantic  blunder  of  Gen'l  Hal  leek, 
ordering  Gen'l  McClellan  to  withdraw  from  the  Peninsula, 
which  being  discovered  by  the  keen  watchfulness  of  the 
Confederate  Gen'l  Lee,  determined  him  to  fall  upon  Gen'l 
Pope's  column  at  Cedar  Mountain,  and  defeat  our  armies  in 
detail  before  concentration  was  possible.  As  early  as  the 
9th,  Jackson  appeared  before  Gen'l  Pope,  but  not  until  the 


ATTACK   UPON   WASHINGTON,    N.  C.  123 

25th  was  the  defeated  Union  column  joined  by  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  It  was  the  old  and  inevitable  story,  "  de 
tachments  assailed  by  the  enemy  in  force,"  the  coolness  and 
dash  of  Gen'l  Jackson  serving  him  well  in  our  extremity. 
That  more  disastrous  consequences  did  not  result,  was  due 
more  to  the  invincible  spirit  of  our  subordinate  officers  and 
their  men,  than  to  the  skill  with  which  the  troops  were  han 
dled.  There  was  no  doubt  that  Gen'l  Jackson  was  Gen'l 
Lee's  right  arm,  and  that  his  place  was  never  filled  after  his 
death.  We  are  confident,  however,  he  had  reached  the  merid 
ian  of  his  glory,  and  in  future  contests  with  our  arms,  Jack 
son's  fame,  with  that  of  his  "foot  cavalry,"  would  have  waned 
like  that  of  the  once  famous  Stuart,  and  Wade  Hampton, 
with  their  cavalry.  The  crucible  of  war  educated  for  the 
Union,  a  group  of  officers  with  prudence,  forethought,  skill, 
and  bravery,  which  theory  alone  had  failed  to  inculcate. 

September  6th,  a  force  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  eight 
companies  of  infantry,  two  of  cavalry,  and  one  of  artillery, 
made  a  desperate  attack  upon  Washington,  N.  C.,  then  gar 
risoned  by  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mas 
sachusetts  Regiment,  A  and  B  of  the  First  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  with  one  company  of  cavalry,  and  Capt.  Wall's 
Battery  of  the  Third  New  York  Artillery.  The  enemy 
entered  the  town  without  opposition,  across  the  "  Grice 
place,"  evidently  led  by  some  one  understanding  our  posi 
tion,  and  immediately  surrounded  the  quarters  of  the 
Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  while  another  force  seized  three 
pieces  of  artillery  upon  the  "Hospital  Green."*  Com 
panies  A  and  B  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Regiment, 
bravely  cut  their  way  to  the  quarters  of  the  Twenty-Fourth 
Mass.  Fortunately,  an  expedition  under  Lieut.  Col.  Mix, 


*  It  is  worthy  of  record  of  the  three  pieces  of  artillery  captured  at  this  time,  that 
they  were  taken  from  our  forces  at  Bull  Run,  Va.,  1861 ;  recovered  by  us  at  the  bat 
tle  of  New  Berne,  March  14,  1862;  now  again  recaptured  by  the  enemy;  and  two  of 
them  were  again  retaken  by  us  at  Kinston,  about  three  months  later. 


124          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

consisting  of  four  companies  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry, 
and  four  guns  of  Riggs'  Third  New  York  Battery,  had  landed 
at  Washington  during  the  night,  unknown  to  the  enemy. 
With  Rainbow  Bluff  as  an  objective  point,  it  had  left  the 
town  about  five  oYlock  A.M.,  but  had  gone  but  a  short  dis 
tance,  before  it  was  recalled  by  the  sound  of  the  attack. 
At  full  speed  they  charged  back  to  the  town,  and  cut  their 
Avay  to  the  Union  barracks.  The  fight  was  of  the  most  san 
guinary  character,  from  house  to  house,  and  tree  to  tree,  the 
cavalry  charging  and  re-charging  through  the  town  ;  while 
citizens  joined  in  the  fray  against  the  Union  troops,  from  win 
dows  and  secreted  spots.  For  two  hours  the  battle  fiercely 
raged,  the  enemy  yielding  from  house  to  house,  until  about 
seven  A.M.,  when  they  hastily  withdrew,  leaving  forty-eight 
killed  and  sixty  wounded  and  prisoners.  Our  loss  upon  land 
was  fifteen  killed,  and  forty-seven  wounded  and  prisoners. 

The  cause  of  the  attack,  beyond  the  seizing  of  stores  and 
supplies,  was  to  capture  the  two  companies  of  native  Union 
volunteers,  —  called  by  them  "  buffaloes," — and  by  visiting 
condign  punishment  upon  them,  prevent  further  enlistments 
in  our  cause.  One  of  these  men  being  wounded,  attempted 
to  reach  his  home,  and  was  overtaken  by  a  rebel  cavalryman 
at  his  gate.  The  wounded  man's  wife  threw  herself  between 
her  husband  and  his  pursuer,  when  the  latter  laid  her  head 
open  with  his  sabre,  and  shot  the  father  and  a  three-year-old 
girl  standing  in  the  door.  To  add  to  the  casualties,  as  the 
gunboat  "  Pickett  "  was  clearing  for  action,  one  of  the  hands 
went  into  the  magazine,  and  by  some  carelessness,  exploded 
the  same,  killing  Capt.  Nichols  and  nineteen  men,  wounding 
six  others,  and  annihilating  the  steamer. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  two  hundred  recruits  joined  the 
regiment  at  New  Berne,  most  of  them  brothers  and  friends 
of  the  original  men ;  and  these  soon  proved  themselves 
veterans  in  endurance  and  courage.  The  next  day,  in  the 
midst  of  a  pouring  rain,  a  heavy  gale  prostrated  most  of  our 


ALL    ON    OUTPOST    DUTY.  125 

camp.  This  caused  considerable  discomfort  to  the  men,  but 
with  that  wonderful  elasticity  of  temperament  peculiar  to 
soldiers,  it  was  made  an  occasion  of  frolic  and  good  humor. 
While  this  excitement  was  at  its  height,  Companies  A,  C  and 
I  were  ordered  to  Washington,  N.  C.,  and  left  at  five  p.  M. 
on  the  steamer  "  Ocean  Wave,"  to  relieve  a  detachment  of 
the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  at  that  place.  The  14th,  Com 
panies  B,  D,  E,  F  and  G  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Reg 
iment,  were  ordered  to  Newport  Barracks,  an  outpost  on  the 
railroad,  central  between  New  Berne  and  Beaufort.  The 
entire  regiment  was  now  on  outpost  duty,  our  positions  being 
separated,  by  the  ordinary  means  of  communication,  by 
upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

Why  the  Twenty-Seventh  should  be  assigned  so  largely  to 
this  duty,  finds  no  explanation,  except  in  Gen'l  Fester's 
absolute  confidence  in  their  vigilance  and  courage.  Wash 
ington,  N.  C.,  was  a  most  exposed  position,  considering  the 
smalluess  of  its  garrison,  and  its  menace  to  the  enemy. 
New  Berne  could  not  be  attacked  on  its  front,  without  first 
assailing  our  detachment  at  Bachelor's  Creek,  while  no  rear 
or  flank  movement  on  that  city,  or  attempt  to  interfere  with 
its  communication  with  Beaufort,  could  be  made  without 
assailing  us  at  Newport  Barracks. 

The  detachment  at  Washington  was  under  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Lyman,  that  at  Newport  Barracks  under  Maj. 
W.  G.  Bartholomew,  while  Companies  H  and  K  still 
remained  at  Bachelor's  Creek  under  Capt.  H.  K.  Cooley. 
The  detachment  at  Newport  Barracks  was  quartered  in 
"rude  huts"  plastered  with  mud,  one  of  which  they  set 
apart  as  a  chapel,  and  equipped  with  platform,  desk  and 
seats.  The  position  was  surrounded  with  forests  and  marshes 
filled  with  stagnant  water,  and  was  therefore  peculiarly  un 
healthy.  Haverlock  Station,  also  included  in  its  lines,  was 
in  the  midst  of  chaparral  swamps,  so  enervating  and  poison 
ous  as  to  break  down  the  strongest  constitution  in  a  few  days. 


126 


TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


We  append  an  abstract  from  a  consolidated  morning  report, 
at  which  time  D  company  had  been  there  but  one  week. 

Abstract  of  Consolidated  Morning  Report,  Five  Companies  21th  Regiment 
Massachusetts  Volunteers. 


SATURDAY,  OCT.  25,  1862. 

PRESENT. 

IN  AR 

STATION. 

COMMANDING  OFFICER. 

FOR  DUTY. 

SICK. 

REST. 

•~ 

d 

c: 

e 

Newport  Barracks, 

Maj.  W.  G.  Bartholomew. 

E 
O 

fflcers. 

a 

•a 

E 

a 

•o 

i 

a 
•a 

.3 

• 

2 

ti 

0 

.2 

.2 

H 

t" 

~ 

2 

c 

a 

B 

"5 

1 

"3 

Si 

PI 

w 

_ 

a       o 

^ 

O 

W 

< 

1 

2 

- 

- 

'-. 

- 

- 

- 

3 

B, 

- 

- 

2 

77 

- 

14 

- 

- 

93 

D, 

- 

- 

1 

29 

2 

66 

- 

- 

98 

E, 

- 

- 

2 

71 

- 

12 

- 

2 

87 

F, 

- 

- 

3 

72 

- 

21 

,  - 

- 

96 

G, 

- 

- 

1 

69 

1 

9 

1  ~ 

1 

81 

1 

2 

9 

318 

3 

122 

I   "" 

3 

458 

Picket  duty,  scouting  and  foraging,  fully  occupied  the 
time,  the  latter  usually  so  exciting  and  remunerative,  as  to 
compensate  for  the  labor  and  risk.  Here,  for  the  first  time, 
our  men  remained  "on  picket"  twenty-four  hours  without 
relief,  the  ever-present  gnats,  fleas,  and  mosquitoes  poig 
nantly  assisting  them  in  their  vigils,  while  the  only  com 
fort  afforded  was  the  philosophical  one, 

"  Fleas  have  other  fleas  to  bite  'cm, 
And  these  again  have  other  ones, 
And  so  ad  infinitum." 

The  fleas  at  this  place  grew  to  a  wonderful  size,  and  were 
plentiful  in  the  extreme.  One  man  musing  over  his  discom 
fort  said,  "  They  carry  a  biting  apparatus  equal  to  a  two-inch 
auger,  and  are  sure  to  reach  hard-pan  every  time.  If  some 


SOUNDS,    RIVERS    AND   MARSHES.  127 

of  those  chaps  boring  for  oil  in  Pennsylvania,  would  only 
import  a  few  of  these  '  well-sinkers,'  he  would  be  sure  to 
get  the  oil  if  there  was  any  between  him  and  China.  I  tell 
you,  boys,  for  artesian  work,  fleas  can't  be  beat ! " 

September  30th,  Capt.  Sandford  again  paid  his  respects  to 
the  enemy's  outpost  at  Core  Creek,  capturing  their  camp 
equipage,  with  nine  horses  and  twenty  carbines  ;  the  enemy 
escaping  through  the  failure  of  a  detachment  of  the  Third 
New  York  Cavalry  to  occupy  the  place  assigned  them.- 

October  7th,  by  the  courtesy  of  Major  Folsom,  Paymas 
ter  U.  S.  A. ,  the  writer  was  invited  to  accompany  him  on  a 
trip  through  the  department,  in  connection  with  his  official 
duties,  which  opportunity  we  improve  to  give  a  clearer  idea 
of  its  configuration,  forces  and  defences. 

The  line  of  occupation,  as  held  by  the  Union  arms,  was 
nearly  due  north  and  south ;  Winton  and  Plymouth  on  the 
north,  with  Beaufort  on  the  south,  being  a  little  east  of  the 
longitude  of  Washington,  D.  C.,  while  Washington  and 
New  Berne  were  but  a  little  west  of  the  same.  The  country 
occupied  was  traversed  by  not  less  than  seven  navigable 
streams,  some  penetrating  far  into  the  interior  of  the  State. 
Numerous  smaller  streams  entered  the  sounds  at  frequent  in 
tervals,  whilst  Albermarle  and  Pamlico  Sounds  (when  en 
tered)  would  furnish  a  safe  harbor  for  the  navies  of  the 
world.  The  larger  part  of  the  country  was  densely  wooded 
and  marshy,  with  numerous  lakes  and  bodies  of  stagnant 
waters.  Wherever  the  land  emerges  from  the  swamp, 
the  soil  at  once  assumes  a  light,  sandy  character,  with  forests 
of  pine,  oak,  black  walnut  and  ash. 

The  marshes  are  fathomless  swales,  where  vegetable  mould 
has  accumulated  for  ages,  until  sufficient  consistency  has 
formed  to  crowd  the  bilious  waters  into  meandering  streams 
and  intersecting  and  dividing  pools  of  stagnant  water.  Into 
the  slimy  depths  of  mire,  huge  cone-shaped  roots  from  the 
cypress  plunge  for  sustenance  and  support,  while  monster 


128  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

trees  rise,  with  distended,  paunch-like  trunks,  towering  aloft 
as  if  attempting  to  escape  from  their  repulsive  surround 
ings.  Huge  vines  embrace  their  trunks  like  serpents,  cross 
ing  from  tree  to  tree,  and  mingling  in  interminable  snarls, 
while  the  "  sweet  briar,"  which  forms  the  undergrowth,  for 
bids  admission  to,  or  exit  from  these  confines.  The  river- 
banks  are  low,  disappearing  almost  imperceptibly  at  the 
water  line.  Wherever  the  shores  assume  solidity,  scatter 
ing  fishermen's  homes  cling  close  to  the  river,  the  scant 
clearing  around  them  showing  they  calculate  little  on  the  soil 
for  sustenance.  The  lack  of  boldness  and  variety  is  pain 
fully  apparent  in  all  the  scenery  adjacent  to  the  coast  and 
the  water- courses  of  North  Carolina. 

Our  sail  down  the  Neuse  and  out  on  the  restless  Pamlico, 
under  a  full-orbed  moon,  that  October  evening,  furnished 
inspiration  to  extend  the  stories  of  camp  and  field  till  nearly 
midnight. 

The  next  morning  we  landed  at  Washington,  one  hundred 
twenty-five  miles  from  New  Berne.  The  town  is  built  on 
the  northerly  bank  of  the  Pamlico  River,  and,  excepting  the 
Grice  Mansion,  presents  few  attractions  or  evidences  of  thrift. 
It  is  the  shire-town  of  Beaufort  County,  was  a  slave-mart 
before  the  Avar,  with  a  considerable  trade  in  naval  stores,  and 
boasted  of  a  church,  an  academy,  a  bank  and  a  weekly  news 
paper.  Appearances  indicated  a  low  ebb  of  social  life  and 
intelligence,  whilst  the  decayed  wharves,  rickety  buildings, 
and  unkempt  surroundings,  attested  the  indolence  of  their 
owners  and  the  lack  of  ordinary  comforts.  Few  remained 
except  the  women,  and  these  were  sullen  and  bitterly  hostile. 
During  the  later  occupancy  of  this  place,  the  Grice  mansion, 
with  its  serpentine,  arbored  walks,  flowers  and  evergreens, 
was  appropriated  for  hospital  purposes,  because  of  the  cov 
ert  disloyalty  of  its  owner. 

The  place  was  now  garrisoned  by  Companies  A,  C  and  I, 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regiment,  two  companies  of 


DEFENCES    OF    WASHINGTON.  129 

the  First  North  Carolina  Union  Volunteers,  and  one  company 
each  of  the  Third  New  York  Artillery  and  Third  New  York 
Cavalry,  all  under  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman,  with 
Capt.  William  H.  Walker  of  Company  C,  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment,  as  Provost  Marshal.  This  force  was  supple 
mented  l>y  three  United  States  naval  vessels,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Commander  II.  D.  Rcnshaw.  The  defences 
consisted  of  a  line  of  fortifications  encircling  the  town  half  a 
mile  from  its  suburbs,  with  block-houses  on  the  river,  above 
and  below  the  town,  and  on  the  roads  entering  the  place. 
Fort  Washington,  at  the  centre  of  the  line  of  works,  and 
rear  of  the  town,  guarded  the  approaches  not  enfiladed  by  the 
navy.  These  defences,  and  the  naval  vessels,  mounted 
twenty-seven  guns,  from  a  six-pound  Wiard  to  a  hundred- 
pound  Parrott.  Opposite  the  town,  a  bridge  of  some  fifteen 
hundred  feet  spanned  the  river,  affording  direct  land  com 
munications  with  New  Berne,  forty  miles  distant. 

After  enjoying  the  hospitalities  of  the  three  companies 
fiom  the  Twenty-Seventh  for  a  day,  and  gladdening  them 
with  the  regulation  supply  of  greenbacks,  we  again  turned 
our  prow  toward  the  sound.  Dark  threatening  clouds 
mantled  the  sky,  from  which  came  livid  flashes  of  lightning, 
which  rendered  the  darkness  more  impressive.  The  wake 
of  the  vessel  was  a  train  of  expanding  phosphorescent  light, 
sparkling  brightly  under  the  steamer's  wheels,  but  fading  as 
it  receded  until  lost  in  the  distance.  At  length  the  storm 
broke  with  a  deluge  of  rain,  which  quelled  the  surging 
waves  to  a  long,  smooth  swell,  through  which  we  sped  our 
way  to  Plymouth.  Taking  the  southern  channel  of  the 
Roanoke,  we  passed  a  country  loyal  to  the  most  dismal 
description  given  of  North  Carolina. 

Plymouth  is  situated  upon  the  southerly  side  of  the  Roan 
oke,  about  nine  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  a  mile  below  the 
head  of  the  islands,  which  here  divide  the  river  into  three 
channels.  Although  only  thirty-six  miles  from  Washington, 


130  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

and  seventy-six  from  New  Berne  by  land,  yet  the  distance  by 
steamer  was  two  hundred  miles  from  either  place.  The  town 
is  surrounded  by  death-breeding  miasmatic  swamps,  and  the 
sallow  fever-and-ague  tint  was  equally  observable  on  citi 
zens  and  soldiers.  It  was  garrisoned  by  one  company  each 
of  the  Ninth  New  York  and  First  North  Carolina  Union 
Volunteers,  with  a  detachment  of  the  Third  New  York  Cav 
alry.  Its  defences  consisted  of  a  line  of  fortifications  encir 
cling  the  town  from  river  to  river,  with  several  contiguous 
outlying  forts,  built  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Capt. 
Farquhar  of  the  Engineer  Corps.  With  the  naval  force 
which  covered  the  town  and  guarded  the  river  approaches, 
it  was  considered  invulnerable  to  any  attack  likely  to  be 
made  against  it.  At  this  time  the  town  contained  quite  a 
number  of  ornamental  residences  and  business  marts,  but 
later  was  nearly  destroyed  by  the  enemy. 

While  here,  Capt.  Calhoun  of  the  steamer  "Hunchback," 
furnished  the  author  the  following  account  of  an  engage 
ment  up  the  Chowan  River.  An  aid  of  Gen'l  Dix  at  Fort 
ress  Monroe,  communicated  with  our  naval  authorities,  desir 
ing  the  fleet  to  co-operate  with  them  in  an  attack  on  the 
enemy  along  the  Black  water  River.  The  "  Commodore 
Perry,"  Commander  Flusscr,  and  the  "  Hunchback,"  Capt. 
Calhoun,  were  assigned  the  duty,  and  six  A.  M.,  September 
27th,  was  fixed  for  the  attack.  This  date  proved  too  early 
for  Gen'l  Dix,  lint  before  his  aid  returned,  the  above-named 
vessels  were  anchored  at  Winton,  a  few  miles  below  the  scene 
of  the  morrow's  conflict. 

At  six  o'clock,  the  fith,  the  vessels  were  promptly  at  the 
place  assigned,  fired  the  signal  gun  for  action,  and  at  the 
same  time  commenced  cautiously  ascending  the  Blackwater 
River,  which  was  so  narrow  that  a  desperate  foe  might  board 
them  from  either  bank.  Suddenly,  a  musketry  fire  raked 
the  vessels  from  stem  to  stern,  cutting  down  the  "  Perry's" 
flag.  Everything  was  ready  for  close  action,  and  for 


FIGHT    UPON    THE    BLACKWATER.  131 

four  hours  they  kept  up  the  unequal  contest,  with  grape, 
shrapnel  and  half-second  shell,  hoping  each  moment  to  hear 
the  sound  of  friendly  arms  to  their  relief.  Twice  during  the 
engagement,  Commander  Flusser  sent  forward  a  man  to  raise 
the  stars  and  stripes,  each  of  whom  fell  lifeless  at  the  foot  of 
the  flag-staff.  Seeing  this,  Flusser  rushed  to  the  spot,  raised 
his  colors  midst  a  storm  of  bullets,  and  returned  unharmed, 
though  his  clothing  was  riddled  by  shot.  He  then  went  to 
a  gunner,  s;iying,  "  I'll  show  you  how  to  cut  a  fuse,"  stoop 
ing  at  the  same  time  and  cutting  it  close,  when  a  ball  passed 
over  him,  piercing  the  heart  of  his  gunner,  who  fell  upon 
him.  Their  ammunition  being  nearly  exhausted,  and  failing 
to  hear  from  Gen'l  Dix,  they  reversed  their  engines  to  drop 
down  the  river.  Fortunately  the  two  vessels  were  armed 
ferry-boats,  and  could  move  with  facility  in  either  direction, 
as  it  was  impossible  for  them  to  turn. 

A  new  difficulty  now  beset  them.  During  the  engage 
ment,  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  had  felled  trees  from  both 
banks  into  the  river  below,  completely  obstructing  return. 
With  a  resource  never  failing  them  in  an  emergency,  they 
fastened  the  two  steamers  stern  to  stern,  and  with  a  full 
head  of  steam  ploughed  their  way  through  the  obstructions. 
Their  huge  guns  thundered  forth  storms  of  iron  hail,  with 
awful  concussion,  and  terrible  havoc,  as  they  ran  the  gaunt 
let  of  the  blockade.  It  was  gallantly  done  ;  the  enemy  giv 
ing  up  the  contest,  if  the  vessels  would  only  retire  Irom 
their  front.  Capt.  Calhoun  modestly  refused  to  speak  of 
his  deeds,  which  others  averred  were  no  less  daring  than 
those  of  Capt.  Flusser,  there  being  not  less  than  one  thousand 
scars  from  musket-balls  upon  his  boat.  It  is  needless  to  say 
to  the  Twenty-Seventh,  that  when  he  got  at  work,  something 
got  a  "  terrible  Hunchback."  It  is  worthy  of  record  of  these 
commanders,  that  an  order  to  rendezvous  at,  or  attack  a 
place,  was  construed  to  mean  just  what  it  said,  and  exe 
cuted  accordingly;  and  no  disaster  or  disappointment  befell 


132  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

from  dereliction  of  duty  on  their  part.  The  results  of  battle 
in  a  majority  of  cases,  turn  on  the  simple  matter  of  punctu 
ality  and  literal  obedience  to  orders ;  a  lesson  not  laid  to 
heart,  until  tens  of  thousands  of  our  rank  and  file  had  shed 
their  blood  to  compensate  for  the  jealousy,  tardiness,  or 
duplicity  of  some  "general  officer."  It  was  a  tower  of 
strength  to  any  threatened  position  to  say,  that  the  "Com 
modore  Perry  "  or  "  Hunchback  "  was  there  ;  and,  after  this 
encounter,  the  enemy  gave  them  a  wide  berth. 

At  noon  of  the  llth,  we  left  for  Wingfield,  forty- five 
miles  up  the  Chowan  ;  and  the  most  northerly  point  occupied 
by  us  in  the  State.  The  Chowan  River,  like  the  Neuse  and 
Pamlico,  is  really,  for  many  miles,  a  broad  estuary  from  the 
sound,  but  unlike  them,  abounds  in  undulating  shores  with 
commanding  bluffs,  and  compares  more  favorably  with  our 
northern  rivers,  for  variety  and  beauty  of  scenery.  The 
headquarters  of  the  post  was  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Dillards, 
whose  discretion  had  led  him  to  seek  the  company  of  more 
congenial  spirits.  The  defences  at  this  point  were  a  block 
house  and  a  line  of  rifle-pits.  As  a  last  resort,  in  case  of 
an  overpowering  attack,  they  could  retreat  to  the  river 
under  cover  of  the  Union  fleet.  The  position  was  valuable 
only  as  a  point  of  observation,  and  was  garrisoned  by  a 
company  of  the  First  North  Carolina,  recruited  in  that  vicin 
ity  by  Lieut.  James  J.  McLane,  a  former  member  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  The  men  enlisted  under  condition  that 
they  should  be  allowed  to  guard  their  homes,  and  more  valu 
able  service  than  these  loyal  sons  of  North  Carolina  gave, 
could  not  be  rendered.  The  government  would  gladly  have 
removed  them  to  a  less  exposed  position,  but  they  insisted 
that  with  their  knowledge  of  the  country,  and  their  love 
for  home  and  friends,  they  could  render  their  most  effective 
service  here.  We  cannot  lose  the  opportunity  of  recording 
our  appreciation  of  the  loyal  sons  of  the  Old  North  State, 
who,  in  every  engagement,  fought  with  a  bravery  born  of 


EDENTON    AND    SHILOH.  133 


desperation,  knowing  the  fate  awaiting  them  if  the}^  fell  into 
traitor  hands. 

On  leaving  Wingfield  we  visited  the  beautiful  town  of 
Edenton,  so  like  many  of  our  New  England  villages.  This 
town,  under  the  wise  administration  of  Mayor  James  Nor- 
cum,  a  staunch  Union  man,  was,  as  by  mutual  consent, 
neutral  ground.  The  almost  constant  presence  of  our  navy 
in  the  bay  rendered  the  place  untenable  for  the  enemy. 
Our  party  went  ashore  unarmed,  but,  being  advised  by  the 
mayor  of  a  body  of  guerrillas  lingering  near  the  town,  con 
sidered  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,  and  withdrew  to 
our  steamer. 

The  next  morning  we  arrived  at  Shiloh,  a  post  on  the 
Posquetank  River,  garrisoned  by  another  company  of  the 
First  North  Carolina  Union  Volunteers.  The  water  at  the 
landing  being  shallow,  a  negro  with  a  mule  and  cart  drove 
out  some  two  hundred  feet,  and  backed  his  cart  to  the 
steamer,  leaving  only  the  side  raves  above  water.  Some 
pieces  of  board  were  laid  across  the  top,  when  the  nogro  with 
a  grim  smile  called  out,  "All  aboard  for  de  shoa  !  "  We 
were  not  unexpected  or  unwelcome  guests,  for  the  right 
number  of  horses  awaited  to  carry  us  to  the  camp,  some 
three  miles  distant.  Here  we  found  a  fine,  intelligent  body 
of  men,  with  a  discipline  and  a  perfection  of  accoutrements 
rarely  excelled.  The  camp  was  well  situated,  with  high 
and  dry  surroundings,  but  like  Wingfield,  was  valuable  only 
as  a  point  of  observation.  The  next  day  we  returned  to 
Roanokc  Island,  —  of  which  a  description  has  already  been 
given,  —  where  we  revisited  the  battle-field  and  the  graves 
of  our  fallen  comrades,  reaching  New  Berne  the  afternoon 
of  the  14th. 


134  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

TARBORO    EXPEDITION. 

UNDER  the  exigencies  of  service,  the  government  had 
called  for  seventy-five  thousand  nine  months'  troops  ;  decid 
ing  to  throw  such  a  force  into  the  Southern  departments,  as 
to  insure  them  against  successful  assault  during  the  truce  of 
winter  in  Virginia,  and  if  possible,  to  enable  them  to  assume 
the  offensive.  Accordingly  the  following  regiments  were 
assigned  to  North  Carolina,  arriving  as  stated  below. 

Third  Mass.,  Col.  Silas  G.  Richmond,  one  thousand  and  twenty- 
four  men,  arrived  October  27th. 

Fifth  Mass.,  Col.  George  H.  Pierson,  nine  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  men,  arrived  October  27th. 

Eighth  Mass.,  Col.  Frederick  .T.  Coffin,  nine  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  men.  arrived  November  30th. 

Forty-Third  Mass.,  Col.  Charles  S.  Holbrook,  one  thousand  and 
seventy-six  men,  arrived  November  15th. 

Forty-Fourth  Mass.,  Col.  Francis  L.  Lee,  one  thousand  and 
forty-seven  men,  arrived  October  26th. 

Forty-Fifth  Mass.,  Col.  Charles  R.  Codman,  one  thousand  and 
twenty-five  men,  arrived  November  15th. 

Forty-Sixth  Mass.,  Col.  George  Bowler,  nine  hundred  and  eighty 
men,  arrived  November  15th. 

Fifty-First  Mass.,  Col.  A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  nine  hundred  and 
seventy-three  men,  arrived  November  30th. 

Total,  eight  thousand  and  ninety- three  men. 

By  thoughtless  remarks,  a  temporary  spleen  was  engen 
dered  between  some  of  the  veteran  and  new  regiments,  but 
in  active  service  this  for  the  most  part  disappeared. 


OUR  NINE  MONTHS'  MEN.  135 

The  Forty-Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment  and  Company  H, 
Capt.  George  R.  Davis,  of  the  Eighth  Massachusetts  Regi 
ment,  were  kith  and  kin  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  and  were 
recruited  from  their  homes.  From  the  outset,  the  most  ami 
cable  feeling  existed  toward  these  men,  and,  if  "  the  Forty- 
Sixth  felt  inspired  with  the  confidence  and  invincible  spirit  of 
veterans  when  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  us,"  we 
also  felt  that  the  same  blood  coursed  in  their  veins,  and  they 
could  be  relied  upon  for  any  duty  assigned  them.  Among 
their  rank  and  file,  as  well  as  officers,  were  men  who  stood 
high  in  civil  life,  morally,  socially  and  politically ;  men  who 
had  been  not  only  counsellors  and  executors  of  the  law, 
but  lawgivers;  business  men,  under  whose  prudent  care, 
vast  enterprises  had  sprung  up,  giving  prosperity  to  entire 
communities,  and  furnishing  sustenance  to  those  whom  war 
had  bereft  of  the  strong  arm  of  support.  Soon  after  their 
arrival,  Col.  Bowler  was  obliged  to  return  home,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Col.  William  S.  Shurtleff,  a  gentleman  of 
finished  attainments,  reliable  and  efficient  as  an  officer;  and 
of  personal  magnetism  and  fearlessness.  He  has  long 
served  the  county  of  Hampden  as  its  judge  of  probate,  ably 
seconded  by  Samuel  B.  Spooner,  his  former  major,  as  regis 
ter. 

The  Third  Regiment  was  raised  in  Plymouth  County,  the 
Fifth  and  Eighth  in  Essex  County,  the  Forty-Third,  Forty- 
Fourth  and  Forty-Fifth  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  ;  while  the 
Fifty-First  was  a  Worcester  regiment,  and  held  the  same 
relation  to  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  as  the  Forty-Sixth  to 
the  Twenty-Seventh. 

During  the  evening  of  October  29th,  Major  Bartholomew, 
at  Newport  Barracks,  had  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  with  his 
detachment,  in  three  hours,  or  upon  the  return  of  the  train 
from  Beaufort.  It  was  two  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  30th, 
however,  before  the  train  arrived,  and  three  o'clock  when  we 
reached  New  Berne.  Here  we  remained  until  eight,  A.M., 


136  TWEXTY-SEVEXTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

when  Ave  boarded  the  steamer  "  Pawtuxent,"  and  arrived  at 
Washington,  N.  C.,  the  31st  inst.  We  were  accompanied  by 
other  vessels,  with  the  Fifth,  Twenty-Third,  Twenty-Fourth 
and  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  Fifth  R.  I.,  Tenth  Conn.,  and 
Ninth  New  Jersey  Regiments.  On  the  afternoon  of  October 
30th,  Col.  T.  J.  C.  Amory,  with  the  Seventeenth  and  Forty- 
Fourth  Mass.,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  Third  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  left  New  Berne  by  the  overland  route,  expecting 
to  reach  Washington  by  the  night  of  the  31st.  They  reached 
Swift  Creek  at  sundown,  the  30th,  and  found  the  enemy  had 
destroyed  the  bridge,  but  made  no  effort  to  repair  the  same 
until  the  following  day.  On  this  account,  he  failed  to  reach 
Washington  until  dark,  November  1st,  a  full  day  behind 
time. 

During  the  delay,  Capt.  James  M.  Pendleton,  an  aid  to 
Gen'l  Foster,  in  hurrying  to  deliver  an  order,  jumped  on  a 
strange,  high-spirited  horse,  and  dashed  down  the  street. 
On  the  way,  the  animal  shied  and  threw  him  against  a  tree, 
breaking  three  ribs,  one  of  which  pierced  his  lungs,  and, 
with  other  severe  injuries,  resulted  in  death.  Thus  sud 
denly  was  removed  a  man  of  more  than  usual  promise,  who 
had  volunteered  his  services,  paid  his  own  expenses,  and 
lived  the  rough  life  of  a  soldier,  without  other  remuneration 
than  the  consciousness  of  his  country's  approval.  He  dis 
tinguished  himself  at  Roanoke  Island  and  New  Berne, 
receiving  complimentary  notice  therefor,  and  was  always 
ready  wrhere  duty  called,  whether  on  the  march  or  the  field  of 
battle.  He  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and  a  native  of 
New  York  City,  whither  his  remains  were  forwarded. 

The  troops  present  were  temporarily  brigaded  as  fol 
lows  :  — 

First  Brigade,  Col.  T.  J.  C.  Amory  commanding :  Twenty- 
Third  Mass.,  five  companies;  Seventeenth  Mass.,  six  companies; 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  five  companies ;  two  sections  Third  N.  Y. 
Artillery,  four  guns. 


THE    TARBORO    EXPEDITION.  137 

Second  Brigade,  Col.  Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  commanding: 
Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  five  companies  ;  Forty-Fourth  Mass.,  ten 
companies;  Fifth  Rhode  Island,  five  companies ;  Tenth  Conn., 
eight  companies  ;  Belger's  Battery,  six  guns. 

Third  Brigade,  Col.  H.  C.  Lee,  commanding:  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  six  companies;  Ninth  New  Jerse}',  six  companies;  and 
Fifth  Mass.,  ten  companies;  with  Batteries  B,  II  and  K,  Third 
N.  Y.  Artillerj-,  sixteen  guns  ;  the  whole  force  aggregating  some 
five  thousand  men,  and  twentj'-eight  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  other  companies  of  these  regiments  remained  as  camp 
guards  or  upon  outpost  duty. 

The  column  moved  the  morning  of  November  2d,  Steven 
son's  Brigade  in  advance,  capturing  some  of  the  enemy's 
pickets  at  six  miles,  and  their  camp  at  nine  miles,  the  latter 
having  been  deserted  on  our  approach.  The  country  was 
level,  with  light,  sandy  soil,  and  an  almost  unbroken  forest 
of  pine.  At  four  r  M.  our  advance  came  upon  the  Twenty- 
Sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  with  a  section  of  Moore's 
Battery,  strongly  posted  at  Old  Ford,  four  miles  from  Wil- 
liamston.  The  Twenty-Fourth  and  Forty-Fourth  Massachu 
setts  Regiments,  with  Belger's  Battery,  engaged  them,  charg 
ing  across  the  creek  and  swamp,  the  enemy  retreating 
precipitately  to  Rhall's  Mills,  from  which  position  they  were 
driven  by  the  same  force.  Our  loss  in  these  two  engage 
ments  was  three  killed  and  thirteen  wounded ;  that  of  the 
enemy,  ten  killed  and  twenty-nine  wounded/  The  move 
ment  was  continued  until  two  o'clock  A  M.,  the  morning  ot 
the  3d,  when  we  bivouacked  in  a  cornfield  in  the  midst  of  a 
heavy  rain. 

At  eight  o'clock  the  3d,  the  march  was  resumed,  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  in  advance,  supported  by  Lee's 
Brigade,  the  expectation  being  that  the  enemy  would  con 
test  the  occupation  of  Williamston.  We  found  the  place 
deserted  by  both  troops  and  citizens,  however,  and  the  gun 
boats  "  Helzel,"  "  Hunchback,"  "  Commodore  Perry,"  "  Sey- 


138  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

mour,"  and  "  Valley  City,"  lying  opposite  the  town.  It 
would  not  do  to  attempt  a  description  of  the  carnival  of 
live  thousand  hungry  men  in  a  deserted  town.  Groceries, 
dry  goods  and  "  wet  goods,"  too,  were  at  a  large  discount, 
and  bolted  doors  as  useless  as  curtains  of  gauze  to  keep  out 
intruders.  Coercive  excess  was  unknown,  guards  being 
placed  over  all  tenanted  premises  ;  but  deserted  supplies  were 
legitimate  trophies  of  war.  At  three  P.M.  we  moved  about 
five  miles,  and  encamped  for  the  night  in  a  cornfield.  The 
morning  of  the  4th  we  advanced  on  Rainbow  Bluff.  Here 
the  enemy  had  a  fort  pierced  for  five  guns,  with  a  line  of 
breastwork  extending  half  a  mile  into  the  woods,  across  the 
Hamilton  Road.  The  works  were  evacuated  upon  our 
approach,  and  when  our  fleet  came  in  sight,  they  found  them 
fully  manned,  with  the  "  flag  of  our  Union"  over  them,  and 
a  garrison  which  welcomed  them  with  deafening  cheers. 
Rainbow  Bluff  was  upon  the  southerly  bank  of  the  Roanoke 
River,  fifty  feet  high,  and  was  a  point  from  which  the 
enemy  had  several  times  repelled  the  attacks  or  further 
advance  of  our  gunboats.  Hamilton  was  deserted  on  our 
arrival,  the  roads  being  strewed  with  furniture  and  apparel 
dropped  in  the  hasty  stampede  of  the  owners.  The  army 
bivouacked  that  night  upon  a  large  plantation  three  miles 
beyond  Hamilton,  finding  a  large  supply  of  poultry,  pork, 
corn  and  sweet  potatoes.  The  whole  encampment  could  be 
seen  at  a  glance,  and,  with  its  hundreds  of  bivouac  fires,  was 
brilliantly  grand. 

Our  movements  thus  far  indicated  Weldon  as  our  objective 
point,  towards  which  the  enemy  were  hastening  all  their 
available  forces  ;  but  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  we  turned 
sharply  to  the  south,  finding  no  enemy  until  within  seven 
miles  of  Tarboro.  Leaving  a  brigade  to  occupy  their 
attention,  the  main  body  made  a  considerable  detour  to 
within  four  miles  of  Tarboro,  with  a  view  of  intercept 
ing  and  capturing  three  regiments  known  to  have  had  an 


COUNCIL    OF    WAR,   AND   RETURN.  139 

encampment  near.  The  enemy's  indisposition  either  to  be 
amused,  or  fight,  led  them  to  fall  back  upon  the  town,  and 
thus  that  which  proved  to  be  the  real  object  of  the  expedi 
tion,  failed  of  accomplishment.  Throughout  the  night  the 
moving  of  trains  at  Tarboro  was  heard,  which  our  scouts, 
as  well  as  prisoners  captured  during  the  night,  reported  to 
be  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  to  the  enemy. 

In  view  of  the  failure  of  the  original  plan  of  the  expedi 
tion,  Gen'l  Foster  deemed  it  wise  to  convene  a  "  council  of 
war"  of  his  field  officers,  to  consider  the  advisability  of  a  fur 
ther  advance.  At  this  council,  the  lateness  of  the  season, 
and  a  threatening  storm,  with  Coneeto  Swamp  in  our  rear, 
and  evidence  of  a  considerable  reinforcement  to  the  enemy, 
led  the  council,  with  but  three  dissenting  voices,  to  vote  to 
return,  and  it  was  so  ordered.  The  reported  reinforcements 
proved  to  be  a  myth,  and  the  sound  of  the  moving  trains  was 
but  the  noise  of  their  hasty  evacuation,  as  was  proved  by- 
later  scouts,  and  by  the  picking  up  on  the  road  of  the  Tar 
boro  post-office  stamp.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  we 
retraced  our  course  to  Hamilton,  through  a  rain  which  ren 
dered  the  roads  inconceivable  to  those  unacquainted  with 
the  wretchedness  of  Southern  thoroughfares  in  rainy  weather. 
Much  of  the  way,  the  road  was  a  deep  mortar-bed,  of  perfect 
boot-jack  adhesiveness,  through  which  horses  and  artillery 
ploughed  and  floundered,  while  drivers  and  dragoons  cursed 
and  lashed  the  helpless  animals  wallowing  beneath  them. 
"  I  sa}r,  Jack,"  said  one  of  Howard's  Marine  Aitillery,  "  this 
is  sort  a  retreat,  ain't  it?"  "H  —  1!  no,"  was  the  reply, 
"  this  is  a  stragetic  movement !  " 

After  a  night's  rest,  with  an  abundance  of  supplies  fur 
nished  by  foragers,  we  resumed  our  march  in  the  midst  of  a 
storm  of  snow  and  sleet,  which  lasted  the  entire  day.  We 
arrived  at  Williamston  late  in  the  evening,  and  found  com 
fortable  quarters  within  its  deserted  houses.  The  storm 
continued  during  the  8th,  and  the  jaded  troops  were  allowed 


140  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

to  remain  in  shelter,  while  the  sick  and  maimed  were  placed 
upon  the  gunboats.  During  the  day  our  troops  cut  down 
the  public  "  whipping-post,"  and  burned  the  jail.  Previous 
to  our  approach,  this  jail  had  contained  thirty  Union  men, 
who  were  manacled  and  tied  to  the  baggage  wagons  of  the 
retreating  rebels.  The  darkies  clustered  around  the  burning 
building  in  an  exuberance  of  joy,  one  exclaiming,  "  Bress  de 
Lord  !  dis  yere  chile's  prayer  arn  herd  !  Bress  de  Lord  for 
de  Yankees  an  Massa  Linkum  1  "  It  had  been  a  "  black  hole 
of  Calcutta,"  a  modem  inquisition  to  those  now  rejoicing 
over  its  destruction. 

On  the  morning  of  the  9th,  as  the  troops  were  awaiting 
orders  to  move,  Chaplain  Woodworth  rode  along  the  line, 
saying,  "  Boys,  this  is  the  Sabbath,  and  as  we  cannot  have 
other  religious  exercises,  can't  we  all  join  in  the  Doxology  !  " 
Comrade  Oliver  A.  Clark  of  Company  A,  to  whom  music 
and  the  sentiment  were  both  inspiring,  led  off  in  a  clear, 
strong  voice.  Like  electricity  it  sped  from  line  to  line,  and 
the  rising  sun  witnessed  five  thousand  warriors  with  uncov 
ered  heads,  singing  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings 
flow."  We  marched  to  within  four  miles  of  Plymouth, 
during  the  day,  and  arrived  at  that  place  about  noon  the 
10th.  Here,  the  troops  were  embarked  for  New  Berne, 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  remaining  as  guard  over 
the  artillery  and  baggage,  until  it  could  be  removed. 

The  total  loss  of  the  expedition  was  three  killed  and  thir 
teen  wounded,  the  only  engagement  being  at  Ithall's  Mills. 
In  the  absence  of  the  usual  order  to  place  this  engagement 
on  our  flags,  the  Forty-Fourth  Mass,  inscribed  it  on  their 
pipes.  The  result  of  the  expedition  was  the  capture  of  two 
hundred  horses  and  mules,  a  month's  supplies  for  our  forces, 
and  the  development  of  a  considerable  Union  sentiment  in 
that  section  of  the  State. 

Brio;.  Gen'l  Martin,   in  command  of  the  Confederates  at 

O 

Kinston,    supposing  the  baggage  and  artillery  train  would 


MEN  OF  Co.   K. 


SOLON  M.  ALI.IS. 


C'HAS.   II.   RUST. 


CHAS.  GECKI.ER. 


JOHN  W.  BARTLETT. 


FRKD'K  KURTZ. 


Ron  ROY  MCGREGOR. 


THOMAS  C.  AI.LIS. 


ATTACK  UPON  BACHELOR'S  CREEK.  141 

retrace  its  course  via  land  to  New  Berne,  despatched  a  force 
to  capture  it.  Upon  the  12th,  he  also  made  a  demonstration 
against  our  outposts  at  the  Red  House,  and  at  the  Harrison 
House  near  New  Berne  ;  and  about  nine  r.  M.  had  forced  the 
pickets  back  to  the  fortifications.  At  midnight,  the  Thirt}7- 
First  North  Carolina  Regiment  appeared  before  Bachelor's 
Creek,  with  a  view  of  capturing  Companies  H  and  K  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Reg't,  which  still  held  its  position. 
Capt.  Cooley  opened  fire  upon  them  from  the  block 
house,  while  Corp.  Innman  of  Company  K  (an  old  artil 
leryman)  secured  a  pair  of  cart-wheels,  and  by  the  aid 
of  a  few  comrades,  rushed  them  around,  hurridly  giving  the 
various  orders  incident  to  the  arrival  and  limbering  for  action 
of  artillery.  \Yhatever  the  effect  of  this  ruse,  the  enemy 
suddenly  withdrew  for  reinforcements.  Before  these  could 
arrive,  the  enemy  obtained  information  that  the  fleet  from 
Plymouth  Avas  landing  at  New  Berne,  and  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.  Capts.  Cooley  and  Sandford  were  highly  compli 
mented  for  their  courage  and  efficiency  in  holding  the  posi 
tion  during  the  night.  Gen'l  Martin's  force  at  Swift  Creek, 
was  equally  disappointed,  for  the  prize  they  coveted  was 
safely  at  Plymouth,  in  the  keeping  of  Major  Bartholomew 
and  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 

November  22d,  Assistant  Surgeon  Franklin  L.  Hunt, 
with  Mr.  Tanner,  our  sutler's  clerk,  and  a  cavalry  vidette, 
were  riding  on  the  Jamesville  road,  two  miles  from  Washing 
ton,  when  Mr.  Tanner  heard  a  noise  like  the  click  of  a  gun- 
lock,  and  wheeled  his  horse  without  warning  his  companions. 
In  doing  this  he  received  a  charge  of  buckshot;  riddling  his 
clothes  and  badly  lacerating  bis  horse,  but  was  able  to  make 
good  his  escape.  Surgeon  Hunt  and  the  vidette,  who  were 
slightly  in  advance,  received  the  fire  without  warning,  the 
former  falling  forward  in  his  saddle,  mortally  wounded. 
His  body  fell  to  the  ground  as  his  horse  wheeled  to  fol 
low  the  vidette,  who,  though  seriously  wounded,  galloped 


142  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

back  to  town.  A  squad  of  cavalry  was  at  once  despatched, 
and  recovered  the  body  of  Surgeon  Hunt,  though  it  was 
stripped  of  uniform,  arms,  and  valuables.  A  post-mortem 
examination  revealed  the  fact  that  his  left  thigh  was  badly 
shattered,  and  that  sufficiently  to  have  caused  death,  though 
nine  other  wounds  were  found  on  his  person.  The  as 
sassins  were  doubtless  Walker's  cavalry  guerrillas,  who  had 
been  frequenting  the  vicinity  of  Washington,  N.  C.,  for  some 
months.  The  body  was  embalmed  and  forwarded  to  New 
•Berne.  It  was  awaiting  transportation  home,  when  his 
brother  arrived  as  captain  of  Company  I,  Fifty-First  Mass., 
and  met  a  greeting  from  the  icy  hand  of  death,  instead  of 
the  warm  welcome  he  expected.  Funeral  obsequies  were 
held  at  New  Berne,  December  7th,  on  the  return  of  the 
regiment  from  Plymouth.  Dr.  Otis  said  of  Surgeon  Hunt  : 
"  He  wras  a  faithful  and  excellent  physician,  popular  with 
the  soldiers,  and  much  respected  and  trusted  by  myself." 
"Cyrus  "  of  the  "Hampshire  Gazette"  wrote,  "It  is  suffi 
ciently  expressive  of  our  estimation  of  him  to  say  his  memoir 
is  written  on  a  thousand  hearts."  He  was,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  post  surgeon  of  Washington,  N.  C.,  and  though  but 
three  months  with  the  regiment,  he  had  secured  its  confi 
dence.  His  love  and  enthusiasm  for  his  profession  had 
carried  him  through  a  season  of  unusual  tax  upon  skill  and 
endurance.  He  left  a  wife  and  two  children  at  West  Boyl- 
ston,  Mass. 

November  24th,  Lieut.  Gushing,  with  the  gunboat 
"Ellis,"  steamed  twenty-two  miles  up  New  Creek  to 
Onslow,  and  securing  all  the  stores  possible,  started  back 
the  following  morning.  Eight  miles  below,  a  masked  bat 
tery  opened  upon  him,  which  was  silenced,  as  also  several 
others  en  route,  during  the  day.  On  reaching  the  mouth  of 
the  creek,  they  found  it  obstructed  by  sunken  flats,  with  a 
battery  of  four  guns  covering  them.  They  engaged  this 
battery  for  twenty-four  hours,  when,  finding  themselves 


LIEUT.    WOOD'S    STRATEGY.  143 

aground,  they  blew  up  the  "  Ellis,"  and  started  homeward 
in  small  boats.  They  reached  Beaufort  the  28tb,  with 
three  schooners  captured  in  Bogue  Sound,  one  of  which 
was  loaded  with  cotton  and  naval  stores. 

The  six  companies  remaining  at  Plymouth  under  Major 
Bartholomew  were  several  times  called  to  arms  by  attacks 
on  the  picket  line.  Learning  the  whereabouts  of  a  portion 
of  Walker's  cavalry,  Lieut  Pliny  Wood  of  Company  F, 
received  permission  of  Major  Bartholomew  to  attempt  its 
capture.  With  a  detachment  of  three  non-commissioned 
officers  and  twenty  privates  of  the  various  companies,  and  a 
negro  guide,  he  left  Plymouth  at  night  for  "  up  country." 
In  spite  of  darkness,  rain  and  snags,  they  toiled  up  the  river 
through  branches  and  creeks  till  three  o'clock  the  morning 
of  the  21st,  a  distance  of  twenty-five  miles.  After  landing 
and  finding  the  coast  clear,  they  marched  four  and  a  half 
miles  through  woods  and  swamps  to  the  main  road  to  Wil- 
liamston,  a  mile  above,  and  in  the  rear  of  Shiloah  Church 
where  the  cavalry  were  quartered.  Finding  the  enemy 
quiet,  Lieut.  Wood  divided  his  force  into  three  squads ; 
each  under  command  of  a  non-commissioned  officer,  with 
explicit  instructions. 

It  was  now  gray  dawn,  and,  advancing  by  the  double- 
quick,  they  divided  so  as  to  command  the  three  doors,  and 
when  within  a  few  rods  (though  undiscernible  from  the 
church),  Lieut.  Wood  shouted,  "First  Division,  Halt! 
Front !  Ready  !"  which  was  responded  to  by  the  second  and 
third  divisions  on  different  sides  of  the  church,  "Halt! 
Front !  Ready  !  "  The  confused  rebels,  before  they  had  time 
to  collect  their  senses,  found  the  lieutenant  at  the  door,  de 
manding  immediate  and  unconditional  surrender.  The  rebel 
sergeant,-  in  obedience  to  the  demand,  marched  '  out  with 
sixteen  men,  and  while  some  of  our  boys  secured  their  arms 
and  equipments,  others  seized  their  horses  picketed  near  by. 
At  length  the  rebel  sergeant  asked,  "  Where  in  h — 1  arc  you 


144  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

uns  men?  "  and  when  told  to  "  see  them, "angrily  exclaimed, 
"  Is  that  all?  If  we  had  known  that,  we  would  have  given 

you  uns  a  merry  fight,  by !     You   uns  did  that  right 

pert,  but  you  aint  got  the  pickets  yet !  "  The  countersign 
was  extorted  from  a  prisoner,  and  Sergt.  ,  with  Pri 
vates  Hooper  of  A,  and  Madison  of  F,  weie  detailed  to 
relieve  the  pickets.  This  duty  was  successfully  accom 
plished  with  four  additional  prisoners,  and  their  horses. 
The  party  arrived  at  Plymouth  about  noon,  with  twenty 
prisoners,  their  arms  and  equipments,  twenty-five  horses, 
twelve  mules,  and  forty  contrabands ;  all  without  the 
firing  of  a  gun.  The  regiment  captured  thirty-five  other 
prisoners  while  upon  scouts  in  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth. 

December  2d,  orders  were  received  for  the  Twenty-Sev 
enth  Mass.  Regt.  to  return  to  New  Berne,  where  we  arrived 
the  3d,  having  been  away  thirty-five  days  without  overcoats, 
blankets  or  change  of  clothing.  We  had  been  absent  from 
Plymouth  just  a  week,  when  the  garrison  at  that  place  was 
surprised  at  early  morning,  and  driven  to  the  cover  of  the 
gunboats.  The  enemy  were  in  possession  of  the  town  nearly 
an  hour,  during  which  time  they  burned  the  Lirger  part  of 
the  place,  and,  after  having  robbed  her  of  several  thousand 
dollars,  murdered  Mrs.  John  Phelps,  an  esteemed  and  de 
fenceless  Union  woman. 


A    NEW    AWAKENING.  145 


CHAPTER    VII. 

KINSTON,    WHITEHALL   AND   GOLDSBORO. 

THE  assigning  of  Gen'l  Burnside  to  the  command  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  upon  the  relief  of  Gen'l  McClellau 
in  November,  awoke  the  Department  of  North  Carolina  to 
eager  expectation,  as  the  close  relationship  between  the 
departments,  and  the  value  of  our  position  as  a  menace  to 
the  enemy,  led  us  to  believe  that  any  important  movement 
by  Gen'l  Burnside  would  involve  essential  co-operation  by 
us.  In  this  we  were  correct;  for  the  plan  of  assault  upon 
Fredericksburg,  December  13th,  included  a  simultaneous 
attack  by  Gen'l  Peck,  upon  Weldon,  N.  C.,  and  also  of 
Gen'l  Foster  upon  Goldsboro  ;  both  being  important  positions 
on  the  enemy's  seaboard  line  of  communication,  and  favor 
able  diversions  for  the  more  important  movement  on  the 
Rappahannock.  To  guard  against  unfavorable  contingen 
cies,  "Wessel's  Brigade  at  Suffolk,  Va.,  was  ordered  to  ren 
dezvous  upon  the  Chowan,  and  transportation  was  furnished 
them  to  New  Borne,  where  they  arrived  December  9th. 
This  brigade  consisted  of  the  Eighty-Fifth,  Ninety-Second 
and  Ninety-Sixth  New  York  Regiments,  Eighty-Filth,  One 
Hundred  and  First,  and  One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsyl 
vania  Regiments,  with  an  aggregate  strength  of  twenty-one 
hundred  men;  and  increased that'of  the  department  to  about 
sixteen  thousand  infantry,  beside  cavalry  and  artillery. 
Detachments  of  the  Third,  Forty-Fifth  and  Forty-Sixth 
Massachusetts  Regiments  were  despatched  to  the  various 
posts  and  picket  stations  to  relieve  the  veteran  troops,  and 


146  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  Eighth  Massachusetts  placed  in  charge  of  New  Berne 
and  its  fortifications  ;  leaving  an  offensive  force  of  twelve 
thousand  men  and  forty-six  pieces  of  artillery  for  the  duty 
assigned. 

The  army  as  now  constituted,  consisted  of 

Lee's  Brigade. —Third,  Fifth,  Twenty-Fifth,  Twenty-Seventh 
and  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regiments. 

Stevenson's  Brigade.  — Eighth,  Twenty -Fourth,  Forty-Fourth 
Mass.,  Fifth  R.  I.,  and  Tenth  Conn.  Regiments. 

Amory's  Brigade.  —  Seventeenth,  Twenty-Third,  Forty-Third, 
Forty-Fifth  and  Fifty-First  Mass.  Regiments. 

Wessell's  Brigade.  —  Eighty-Fifth,  Ninet}--Second,  Ninety-Sixth 
N.  Y.,  Eighty-Fifth,  One  Hundred  and  First,  One  Hundred  arid 
Third  Penn.  Regiments. 

Artillery  Brigade,  Maj.  Kennedy.  —  First  R.  I.  Battery,  F,  Capt. 
James  Belger,  four  ten-pound  Parrotts,  and  two  howitzers. 

Battery  B,  Capt.  Morrison,  six  twelve-pound  Napoleons  ;  Bat 
tery  E,  Lieut.  G.  E.  Ashby,  two  thirty-two-pound  howitzers,  two 
twenty-pound  Parrotts;  Battery  F,  Capt.  Jenny,  six  ten-pound 
Wiards,  rifled  ;  Batter}*  H,  Capt.  Riggs,  six  twelve-pound  Na 
poleons  ;  Battery  K,  Capt.  Angel,  six  three-inch  Rodmans,  iron  ;  and 
Battery  I,  Lieut.  G.  W.  Thomas,  four  twenty-four-pound  Parrotts  ; 
all  of  the  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery.  One  section  Twenty-Third  N.  Y. 
Battery,  Capt.  Jay  E.  Lee,  two  twenty-four-pound  Parrotts.  One 
section  Twenty-Fourth  N.  Y.  Battery,  Capt.  Alfred  Ransom,  two 
twelve-pound  Wiards,  rifled.  Batter}'  C,  First  U.  S.  Artillery, 
four  twenty-pound  Parrotts. 

The  Ninth  New  Jersey  and  Third  New  York  Cavalry  reg 
iments  were  an  independent  column  to  act  as  the  advance. 
Three  hundred  negroes  from  the  contraband  camp  at  New 
Berne,  joined  the  expedition  as  pioneers  under  the  direction 
of  Henry  W.  Wilson,  a  master  carpenter. 

At  early  morn,  December  llth,  in  the  midst  of  a  fog  so 
dense  as  to  obscure  objects  ten  feet  distant,  Gen'l  Wessell's 
Brigade  advanced  by  the  "  Trent  road,"  followed  in  order 


SKIRMISHING    BY    THE    WAY.  147 

by  Stevenson's,  Amory's,  and  Lee's  Brigades.  At  a  distance 
of  fourteen  miles,  the  roads  were  found  so  obstructed  by 
felled  trees  that  the  force  bivouacked  for  the  night,  while  the 
pioneers  cleared  the  obstructions.  The  next  morning,  with 
the  Ninth  New  Jersey  as  skirmishers,  the  column  advanced 
to  Vine  Swamp  Road,  where  Capt.  Hall,  with  three  compan 
ies  of  cavalry,  was  ordered  to  advance  up  the  direct  road  to 
Kinston  ;  while  the  main  body  went  up  the  Vine  "  Swamp 
Road,"  flanking  the  enemy's  works  and  obstructions.  Capt. 
Hall,  after  a  sharp  skirmish,  and  the  loss  of  two  killed,  drove 
the  enemy  from  their  position,  capturing  eighteen  prisoners. 
The  main  column  was  delayed  at  "  Beaver  Creek,"  to  replace 
the  bridge,  which,  when  completed,  the  Fifty-First  Mass,  and 
the  Twenty-Third  N.  Y.  Battery  were  left  to  protect,  as  well 
as  to  hold  the  cross-road,  and  support  Capt.  Hall  if  neces 
sary.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  bivouacked  late  at  night 
in  a  cornfield  eleven  miles  from  Kinston,  and,  with  the 
main  body,  soon  made  fuel  of  every  length  of  fence  in  the 
surrounding  fields.  By  some  oversight,  Quartermaster  Tyler 
failed  to  provide  the  usual  rations  of  meat,  and  hard-tack 
with  tea  proved  hardly  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of 
soldiers  in  active  service.  It  goes  for  saying  it,  every  defi 
ciency  was  fully  made  up  by  our  foragers. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th  we  again  left  the  main  road 
to  the  right,  leaving  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass.,  with  one  sec 
tion  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  N.  Y.  Battery,  to  hold  the  posi 
tion,  and  make  a  feint  upon  the  direct  road.  About  nine 
o'clock,  Capt  Cole's  company  of  cavalry  came  upon  the  enemy 
at  Southwest  Creek,  protected  by  earthworks  and  four  guns. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  reach  their  position,  the  bridge 
being  partly  destroyed,  Morrison's  Battery  was  brought  into 
position  under  cover  of  which  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  crossed 
the  creek  and  ravine  above,  and  the  Eighty-Fifth  Penn., 
about  half  a  mile  below  the  bridge,  supported  by  the  Twenty- 
Third  Mass.,  when  the  Ninth  charged  the  enemy's  position, 


148  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

capturing  a  six-pound  gun  and  caisson,  with  twenty  prison 
ers.  After  rebuilding  the  bridge,  the  column  advanced  by 
two  roads  upon  Kinston.  Major  Gerrard,  with  three  com 
panies  of  cavalry  and  a  section  of  artillery,  made  a  recon- 
noissance  ten  miles  upon  the  Whitehall  road,  but  finding  no 
enemy,  rejoined  the  main  column,  then  in  bivouac  four  miles 
from  Kinston.  As  a  matter  of  precaution,  lights  or  fires 
were  not  permitted,  but  the  pine  woods  in  a  measure,  pro 
tected  the  Twenty-Seventh  from  the  inclemency  of  the 
night. 

It  was  of  this  action,  the  Confederate  commander  sent  the 
following  despatch,  which,  contrasted  with  the  facts  narrated, 
is  very  suggestive. 

KINSTON,  N.  C.,  Dec.  14,  1862. 

To  GEN'L  COOPER,  Adjt.  Gen'l,  etc.,  Richmond,  Va. 

Gen'l  Foster  attacked  Kinston,  N.  C.,  yesterday,  with  fifteen 
thousand  men  and  nine  gunboats.  I  fought  them  ten  hours,  and 
have  driven  them  back  to  their  gunboats.  His  army  is  still  in  my 

front. 

N.  G.  EVANS,  Maj.  Gen'l  Com'g. 

Sunday,  the  14th,  we  advanced  within  a  mile  of  Kinston, 
where  the  enemy  were  found  strongly  posted  ;  secured  on  the 
right  by  a  deep  swamp,  and  their  left  by  the  river.  The 
Ninth  New  Jersey,  with  Wessell's  Brigade,  attacked  them, 
Batteries  B,  F  and  I,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  Belger's 
Battery,  being  placed  advantageously  on  the  right  of 
the  road  half  a  mile  to  the  rear,  supported  by  Lee's 
Brigade  at  double  column  of  half  distance.  A  fierce  artil 
lery  fire  was  waged  until  one  o'clock,  under  which  a  portion 
of  Stevenson's  and  Amory's  Brigades,  with  Belger's  Battery 
were  advanced,  when  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  Lieut.  Col. 
Leggit,  gallantly  charged  across  the  swamp  under  a  murder 
ous  fire  and  forced  the  enemy  to  a  precipitate  retreat.  Col. 
Mullet  of  the  Sixty-Eighth  North  Carolina  Regiment  with 
his  entire  battalion,  was  captured  by  the  Tenth  Conn,  near 


CAPTURE    OF    KINSTON.  149 

the  bridge,  with  four  pieces  of  artillery  and  five  hundred 
stand  of  arms.  The  enemy  retreated  across  the  Neuse,  and 
fired  the  bridge  previously  mude  ready  for  destruction,  in 
saving  which  Col.  Grey,  of  the  Ninety-Sixth  New  York,  was 
instantly  killed  by  the  discharge  of  a  musket  in  the  fire.  A 
slight  but  ineffectual  resistance  was  made  by  the  enemy  at 
the  bridge,  but  Stevenson's,  WesselPs  and  Atnory's  troops 
were  crossed  over  to  the  town,  and  our  artillery  supported 
by  Lee's  Brigade  brought  into  position.  Batteries  E  and  I, 
Third  New  York,  with  their  Parrott  guns,  were  ordered  to 
open  upon  Gen'l  Evans,  who  had  taken  a  new  position  at 
Washington  Hill,  two  miles  above  Kinston,  but  before  our 
troops  could  be  brought  forward,  he  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 
Capt.  Cole,  Company  K,  Third  Cavalry,  and  a  section  of  Bat 
tery  F,  Third  Artillery,  later  in  the  day  went  down  to  the 
blockade,  capturing  a  battery  of  seven  guns,  two  of  which 
were  those  captured  from  Washington,  N.  C.,  September 
6th. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  bivouacked  just  on  the  out 
skirts  of  Kinston,  and  it  would  be  claiming  too  much  to 
say  that  hens,  turkeys,  geese,  bristled  grunters,  and  sweet 
potatoes,  not  to  mention  quantities  of  apple-jack,  and  deli 
cious  scuppernong  wine,  did  not  furnish  a  temptation  before 
which  all  scruples  failed.  Our  losses  for  the  day  had  been 
thirty-eight  killed  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  wrounded, 
of  which  number  nearly  one-half  were  from  our  brave  com 
rades  of  the  Tenth  Conn.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  two 
hundred  killed  and  wounded,  four  hundred  prisoners,  five 
hundred  stand  of  arms,  and  eleven  cannon,  besides  ammu 
nition,  equipments  and  stores.  The  morning  of  the  15th, 
while  Major  Fitzsimmons,  with  three  companies  of  the  Third 
Cavalry,  were  making  a  feint  above  Kinston,  the  troops 
were  withdrawn  to  the  south  of  the  Neuse,  and  upon  the 
return  of  the  cavalry,  the  place  was  evacuated,  and  its  stores 
and  the  Neuse  bridge  destroyed.  We  advanced  seventeen 


150  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

miles  without  opposition  during  the  day,  and  bivouacked. 
Major  Gerrard,  with  a  battalion  of  cavalry  and  a  section  of 
Jenny's  Battery,  reconnoitered  four  miles  beyond  to  White 
hall  ;  a  rebel  regiment  and  battery  stationed  there,  retreating 
across  and  firing  the  bridge.  Discovering  an  ironclad  under 
construction  upon  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Neuse,  Major  Ger 
rard  called  for  volunteers  to  attempt  its  destruction,  which 
was  responded  to  by  Henry  Butler  of  Company  C,  Third 
N.  Y.  Cavalry,  stripping  and  swimming  the  river.  While 
attempting  to  secure  a  fire-brand  at  the  burning  bridge,  he 
was  discovered  and  chased  by  two  of  the  enemy,  but  in 
spite  of  their  fusilade  upon  him  in  the  water,  succeeded  in 
reaching  his  company  unharmed.  (The  rebel  Gen'l  Robert 
son  notices  this  in  his  official  report.)  Our  battery  now 
opened  upon  the  ram  and  battered  it  in  pieces,  \vhen  the  ' 
battalion  rejoined  the  main  column. 

December  17th,  Major  Gerrard,  with  three  companies  of 
the  Third  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  a  section  of  Ransom's  Battery, 
made  a  raid  on  the  Mount  Olive  Station  and  Goshen  Swamp 
trestle  upon  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  ;  destroy 
ing  several  miles  of  track  and  trestle  ;  burning  the  ties ; 
twisting  the  rails  and  destroying  the  telegraph.  Advancing 
to  Whitehall,  the  main  column  found  the  Eleventh,  Thirty- 
First  and  Fifty-Ninth  North  Carolina  Regiments  with  Starr's 
Battery,  strongly  posted  in  the  woods  across  the  river.  The 
Ninth  New  Jersey  and  Seventeenth  Mass,  were  deployed 
along  the  banks  as  sharpshooters,  while  thirty  pieces 
of  artillery,  supported  by  Lee's  Brigade,  were  posted  along 
the  elevations  which  sloped  steeply  towards  the  river.  A 
furious  cannonade  was  now  opened  upon  the  enemy,  their 
guns  returning  a  rapid  fire  of  shot  and  shell  which  ploughed 
the  crest  and  dropped  around  us  for  two  hours  without  cas 
ualty.  Under  cover  of  our  batteries,  a  considerable  force 
was  advanced,  and  a  feint  made  to  rebuild  the  bridge,  which 
not  only  deceived  the  enemy,  but  led  quite  a  number  of  the 


FIELD    OF    GOLUSBORO.  151 

Tenth  Conn,  to  attempt  to  swim  the  stream.  While  this 
was  going  on,  Gen'l  Foster  quietly  formed  the  remainder  of 
his  column,  and  resumed  the  march  on  Goklsboro,  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  bivouacking  at  night  in  an  old 
cornfield  eight  miles  from  that  place. 

Early  the  18th,  Major  Fitzsimmons,  with  two  companies 
of  the  Third  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  made  a  raid  on  Dudley  Station 
and  Everettsville,  destroying  a  train  of  cars,  with  stations, 
trestle  and  culverts,  while  Major  Gerrard,  with  another  bat 
talion  of  cavalry,  Angell's  Battery,  and  the  Forty-Third 
Mass.,  moved  to  "  Thompson's  Bridge."  The  latter  engaged 
the  enemy,  but,  finding  the  bridge  destroyed,  rejoined  the 
column  at  night.  Lee's  Brigade  now  held  the  advance,  with 
the  real  work  of  the  expedition  before  them.  About  noon, 
the  Eighth,  Fifty-First  and  Fifty-Second  North  Carolina 
Regiments,  with  a  battery,  were  discovered  in  the  woods 
skirting  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  and  Riggs 
Battery  was  brought  into  position  to  disperse  them.  The 
Twenty-Seventh  advanced  down  the  road  by  an  old 
house,  through  a  wooded  ravine  and  shallow  stream,  and 
formed  in  line  on  a  knoll  commanding  a  view  of  the  railroad 
and  bridge,  the  objective  points  of  the  expedition.  The  Ninth 
New  Jersey  and  Seventeenth  Mass,  were  now  advanced  to 
the  right  of  the  position  held  by  the  Twenty-Seventh,  Twen 
ty-Fifth,  and  Third  Mass.,  while  the  Fifth  and  Forty-Sixth 
Mass,  were  moved  to  the  left  to  protect  that  flank.  This 
force  advanced  in  line  toward  the  railroad  across  the  Daniel 
Everett  farm,  which  was  central  between  the  railroad  and 
turnpike  bridges,  each  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant.  After  a 
sharp  engagement,  the  enemy  broke,  and  retreated  across 
the  bridge,  Gen'l  Clingman's  attempt  to  rally  them  proving 
futile.  "Arriving  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  Neuse,  Starr's 
Battery  was  placed  on  the  road  commanding  the  turnpike 
bridge,  supported  by  the  Eighth  North  Carolina,  while  the 
Fifty-First  North  Carolina,  Col.  Allen,  was  deployed  on  the 


152  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

river-bank  below,  and  the  Fifty-Second  North  Carolina , 
Col.  Marshall,  above,"  to  oppose  us.  Robertson's,  and  a 
South  Carolina  brigade,  held  the  position  at  the  railroad 
bridge,  and  were  reinforced,  during  the  engagement,  by 
Evans'  Brigade  from  Whitehall. 

In  advancing  to  the  attack,  our  forces  worked  well  to  the 
right  towards  the  railroad  bridge,  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy,  driving  Clingman's  forces  across  the  river  as  nar 
rated.  Upon  reaching  the  railroad  embankment,  volunteers 
were  called  to  fire  the  railroad  bridge.  Adjt.  B.  N.  Mann  of 
the  Seventeenth  Mass.,  and  many  others  attempted  the 
daring  feat,  but  each  in  turn  was  wounded  or  killed.  The 
enemy  clung  tenaciously  to  the  opposite  banks  near  the  rail 
road  bridge,  and  swept  its  approaches  with  a  withering  fire. 
All  our  batteries  were  now  posted  on  surrounding  eleva 
tions,  and  concentrated  on  the  enemy  at  this  point  a 
rapid  fire,  under  which  Lieut.  George  H.  Graham  of  Rock- 
ett's  Twenty-Third  New  York  Battery,  and  William  C. 
Semmons  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  succeeded  in  reaching 
and  firing  the  bridge.  The  exasperated  enemy  poured  a 
desperate  fire  of  musketry  and  grape  upon  them,  to  escape 
from  which  they  dropped  through  the  bridge,  and  making 
their  way  down  the  river  under  cover  of  brush  skirting  its 
banks,  succeeded  in  reaching  our  forces  unharmed.  As  soon 
as  the  bridge  was  in  flames,  our  artillery  tripled  its  fire  to 
prevent  its  rescue.  Lee's  Brigade  stacked  arms,  and  rush 
ing  up  the  embankment,  wrenched  the  rails  and  ties  from 
the  road-bed,  cut  down  the  telegraph  poles,  and  heating  the 
rails  on  fires  made  from  the  poles  and  ties,  wrenched  and 
twisted  them  beyond  reclaim.  The  enemy's  batteries 
opened  upon  us,  but  beyond  knocking  down  a  few  stacks  of 
arms  and  pitching  them  twisted  and  bent  in  the  air,  no  harm 
was  done.  The  reserves  cheered  to  the  echo  the  thorough 
work  of  the  brigade,  and  between  roaring  of  artillery,  rat 
tling  of  musketry,  cheering  of  men,  flames  of  burning  bridge, 


NEW    MOVEMENT    BY    THE    ENEMY.  153 

and  the  long  line  of  troops  upon  the  railroad  in  their  work 
of  destruction,  it  presented  a  scene  of  devastation  and  din 
rarely  equalled. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  being  fully  accomplished, 
orders  were  issued  for  the  troops  to  withdraw ;  Lee's  Bri 
gade  acting  as  rear  guard.  In  the  execution  of  this  order, 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  withdrew  to  an  old  house 
upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine  and  stream,  improving 
the  time  in  making  coffee,  while  awaiting  the  removal  of 
our  batteries;  Morrison's  Battery  with  the  Third,  Fifth  nnd 
Forty-Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiments,  still  remaining  on  the 
field.  The  enemy,  discovering  our  intention  to  withdraw, 
ordered  Gen'ls  Clingman  and  Evans  to  attack  our  rear,  with 
a  view  of  capturing  Morrison's,  Riggs'  and  Belger's  Bat 
teries,  which  remained  with  the  rear  guard.  For  this  pur 
pose  Gen'l  Clingman  moved  the  Fifty-First  and  Fifty-Second 
North  Carolina  Regiments  across  the  river  under  cover  of  the 
woods  and  railroad  to  threaten  our  right,  with  instructions 
to  make  no  reply  if  discovered  by  us,  until,  with  the  Eighth 
and  Sixty-First  North  Carolina  Regiments  and  two  pieces  of 
artillery,  he  could  move  up  the  turnpike,  and,  placing  the 
Sixty-First  against  our  centre,  and  the  Eighth  on  our  left 
flank  and  rear,  he  could  assault  our  position,  his  attack  to  be 
the  signal  for  a  general  assault.*  Gen'l  Evans'  brigade  was 

O  O  f~} 

in  close  column  at  the  centre  of  the  field  with  two  batteries 
to  support  the  movement.  Gen'l  Clingman  claims  that  Gen'l 
Evans  precipitated  the  contest  before  he  was  in  position,  by 
ordering  the  Fifty-First  and  Fifty-Second  North  Carolina  to 
charge,  and  this  seems  verified  by  the  facts. 

While  Lee's  Brigade  were  awaiting  the  movement  of  our 
forces  to  the  rear,  they  were  suddenly  startled  by  a  rebel 
yell,  followed  by  peals  of  artillery,  which  brought  every 
cavalier  to  his  saddle,  every  cannonier  to  his  seat,  and  every 
soldier  to  his  position  in  line.  Hastily  the  cavalry  with 

*  Clingman's  official  report. 


154  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

glittering  sabres  dashed  down  the  cart-path,  followed  on  the 
double-quick  by  the  Twenty-Seventh  and  Twenty-Fifth 
Mass.,  across  the  ravine  to  the  knoll  overlooking  the  field, 
where  we  saw  a  surging  line  of  rebels  charging  upon  Mor 
rison's  Battery  at  the  right  of  the  field.  The  Fifth  and 
Forty-Sixth  Mass,  had  rushed  to  its  support,  and  gallantly 
withstood  the  shock.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 
took  position  upon  the  extreme  left  of  the  field,  with  its  left 
refused  to  defend  its  flank,  while  Belger's  Battery  dashed  in 
front,  and  poured  an  enfilading  fire  upon  the  enemy's  line,  as 
it  swept  around  and  up  the  foot  of  the  hill.  Onward  they 
came  as  an  invincible  host,  and  the  batteries  at  three  hun 
dred  yards  began  firing  double  loads  of  canister,  under 
which  great  swaths  were  mown  in  their  line.  Capt.  Belger 
looked  nervously  to  the  rear  as  if  to  assure  himself  of  his 
supports,  and  turning  to  bis  men  exclaimed,  "  We  are  all 
right,  men  !  Steady  !  Give  'em  shrapnel !  Make  every  shot 
tell !  "  At  a  hundred  yards  the  enemy  wavered,  halted  —  and 
then  broke  into  a  confused  and  disastrous  retreat.  Fortu 
nately  for  them,  just  at  this  juncture  Gen'l  Clingman  with  his 
battery  and  the  Eighth  and  Sixty-Second  North  Carolina 
appeared  in  the  woods  upon  our  left,  and  opened  fire  upon 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 

To  prevent  the  disintegrating  effect  of  moving  by  com 
panies,  Col.  Lyman  ordered  a  "  left  wheel  by  battalion"  — 
a  difficult  but  well-executed  movement, —  followed  by  the 
order  "  By  file,  commence  firing."  Belger's  and  Riggs'  bat 
teries  opened  upon  the  enemy,  and  after  a  short  engagement 
the  Twenty-Seventh  advanced  into  the  woods,  driving  the 
enemy  from  their  position,  and  following  them  with  several 
volleys  of  musketry.  In  this  movement  Lorenzo  D.  Gibson 
of  Company  F,  was  killed,  his  head  being  blown  off  by  an 
exploding  shell.  ..; 

Col.  Lee's  judicious  arrangement  of  his  brigade  had  antici 
pated  Clingman's  entire  plan,  and  he  would  gladly  have  fol- 


FORDING    A    STREAM.  155 

lowed  the  retreating  foe,  but  as  his  instructions  were,  "  act 
entirely  upon  the  defensive,"  he  ordered  his  force  to  with 
draw.  In  repassing  the  ravine,  we  found  the  stream  had 
been  increased  to  a  roaring  torrent.  One  of  our  engineers, 
supposing  our  forces  to  have  crossed,  had  opened  a  flood 
gate  above  to  intercept  the  enemy ;  hence  we  were  obliged 
to  ford  the  stream  to  our  armpits  in  recrossing. 

Of  this  attack  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  Gen'l  Foster 
says  in  his  official  report :  "  Owing  to  the  efficiency  of  Lee's 
Brigade  and  Morrison's  Battery,  it  was  a  miserable  failure." 
Gen'l  G.  L.  Clingmnn,  commanding  the  Confederate  forces, 
says  :  "  We  had  to  move  across  an  open  space  of  one  thou 
sand  yards,  swept  by  heavy  batteries,  and  which  was  sup 
ported  by  large  masses  of  infantry.  Our  forces  advanced 
courageously,  but  were  cut  down  by  a  fire  of  grape  and  can 
ister  not  possible  to  withstand.  But  for  the  loss  thus  sus 
tained,  we  should  have  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
with  a  vastly  inferior  force,  we  had  driven  the  enemy  from  a 
strong  position,  and  obliged  their  whole  army  to  retreat, 
almost  without  loss  to  us."  The  enemy's  loss  in  this  charge 
must  have  been  very  heavy,  as  will  appear  from  the  official 
reports  of  two  of  these  regiments. 

Fifty-First  North  Carolina  Regt.,  Col.  Allen,  six  killed, 
forty-three  wounded,  eight  missing.  Fifty-Second  North 
Carolina  Rogt.,  Col.  Marshall,  eleven  killed,  fifty-eight 
wounded,  ten  missing.  The  Eighth  North  Carolina,  Col. 
Shaw,  reports  three  killed  and  six  wounded  ;  and  the  Sixty- 
First  North  Carolina,  Col.  Devane,  three  killed,  seventeen 
wounded,  and  twenty-three  missing  in  their  attack  upon  the 
Twenty-Seventh.  No  reports  have  been  obtained  of  the 
losses  of  Evans'  Brigade  and  the  batteries. 

Considering  the  exposed  condition  of  Lee's  Brigade  dining 
the  day,  it  js  remarkable  that  they  escaped  with  so  few  casual 
ties.  They  were  at  the  burning  of  the  bridge ;  sharply 
shelled  while  destroying  the  railroad;  and  repelled  unaided 
the  rebel  charge. 


156  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  loss  of  our  brigade  was  as  follows  :  — 

Killed.     Wounded. 

Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt 1  2 

Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regt 1  3 

Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt 1 

Fifth  Mass.  Regt.         ......  1  7 

Third  Mass.  Regt 2 

Total 4          14 

The  casualties  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  were 

LORENZO  D.  GIBSON,  Company  F,  of  Westfield,  killed  by  shell. 

John  Robinson,  Company  I,  of  Brimfield,  Bounded  in  neck  by 
shell. 

James  B.  Hill,  Company  K,  of  Springfield,  wounded  in  thigh  by 
shell,  seriously. 

Comrade  Gibson  was  buried  in  the  garden  back  of  a  house 
at  the  head  of  the  lane,  after  which  we  resumed  our  march, 
the  Twenty-Seventh  at  the  rear  of  the  column. 

Darkness  had  closed  upon  us  and  the  deserted  embers  of 
the  bivouac  had  been  fanned  into  vast  forest  fires  skirting 
the  road  through  which  we  were  forced  to  pass.  The  scene 
was  inexpressibly  grand,  while  the  suffocating  smoke  and  in 
tense  heat  endured  was  only  an  exchange  from  what  we  must 
otherwise  have  suffered  from  our  drenched  clothes  and  the  in 
clement  night.  We  continued  our  march  until  midnight,  and 
bivouacked  on  the  ground  of  the  night  previous,  glad  even  for 
mother  earth  on  which  to  rest  our  wearied  and  chafed  limbs. 
Gen'l  Foster  complimented  the  bravery  and  endurance  of 
Lee's  Brigade  on  its  arrival,  adding  by  way  of  encourage 
ment,  "  In  a  week  we  shall  be  in  Wilmington."  Arriving 
at  Kinston  he  learned  of  the  defeat  of  Gen'l  Burnside  at 
Fredericksburg.  Learning  also  that  Gen'l  Dix  had  not 
moved  from  Suffolk,  he  continued  his  march  back  to  New 
Berne.  The  enemy  followed  the  retiring  column,  dropping 


GEORGE  P.  CLARK,  Co.  A. 


SYLVESTER  S.  HOOPER,  Co.  A. 


WM.   P.  DERBY,  Co.  A,  AI.VIN  A.   GAGE,  Co 


THE    ENEMY    ENGAGED.  157 

shells  .around  our  rear  guard,  but  without  loss  to  us  ;  and 
after  eleven  days'  absence,  we  reached  New  Berne,  glad  to 
enjoy  the  rest  and  comforts  of  our  tented  homes. 

The  full  object  of  our  expedition  was  accomplished,  but  its 
main  advantages  were  neutralized  by  the  failures  at  Freder- 
icksburg  and  Suffolk.  The  results,  besides  the  vast  damage 
inflicted  upon  the  enemy's  supplies  and  communications,  were 
the  capture  of  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  prisoners  and 
twelve  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  following  rebel  regiments  reported  forty- one  killed, 
two  hundred  ninety-eight  wounded  and  two  hundred  sixteen 
prisoners,  as  resulting  from  the  battles  of  Kiuston,  White 
hall  and  Goldsboro  :  — 

Eighth,  Tenth,  Eleventh,  Twenty-Sixth,  Thirty-First, 
Forty-First,  Forty-Fourth,  Forty-Seventh,  Fifty-First,  Fif 
ty-Second,  Fifty-Ninth,  Sixty-First,  Sixty-Second,  Sixty- 
Third,  Sixty-Eighth  North  Carolina  Regiments ;  Seven 
teenth,  Eighteenth,  Twenty-Second,  Twenty -Third  South 
Carolina  Regiments,  Holcombe's  Legion  and  Starr's  Bat 
tery.  In  addition  to  these,  Daniels'  Brigade,  consisting  of 
the  Thirty-Second,  Forty-Third,  Forty-Fifth  and  Fifty- 
Third  North  Carolina  Regiments  and  Second  North  Carolina 
Battalion  arrived  from  Richmond  just  about  the  time  of 
Clingman's  charge,  and  this  brigade  hung  upon  our  rear  as 
we  returned  to  New  Berne.  We  may  therefore  say  that  we 
were  opposed  by  twenty-three  regiments  of  infantry,  three 
battalions,  and  at  the  least  two  batteries.  We  think  it  is 
reasonable  to  doubt  the  enemy's  loss  above  given,  since  we 
have  seen  Clingman's  Brigade  reported  at  Goldsboro, 
twenty-three  killed  and  one  hundred  twenty-four  wounded ; 
while  Mullet  of  the  Sixty-Eighth,  with  over  four  hundred 
men,  was  captured  at  Kinston.  The  entire  Union  loss  was 
ninety  killed  and  four  hundred  and  seventy-eight  wounded. 

During  the  engagement  at  Goldsboro,  it  is  reported  one  of 
Morrison's  men  was  severely  wounded,  and  when  asked  by  a 


158  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

chaplain  if  he  was  supported  by  Divine  grace,  replied  "No  ! 
we  were  supported  by  the  Ninth  New  Jersey." 

The  fertility  of  resource  of  our  foragers  is  well  illustrated 

by  T of  Company  — .  Securing  a  mule,  he  rode  to  an 

adjacent  plantation,  and,  accosting  a  negro  girl  near  an  old 
hen-house,  demanded  some  eggs.  Discovering  a  disposition 
to  demur,  he  backed  the  mule  toward  her,  and  applied 
the  spurs,  when  the  animal  let  its  feet  fly  at  her  face  like  a 
vicious  tedder.  T clung  desperately  to  the  animal,  ex 
claiming  "Get  some  eggs,  or  I'll  kick  your  head  off!" 
Dinah  wilted  and  promised,  but  getting  behind  the  bolted 
door  of  the  hen-house,  with  some  obstinacy  began  to  parley, 

when  T backed  the  mule  to  the  shed  and  reapplied  his 

spurs.  This  the  donkey  resented  by  a  terrible  battering 
with  his  hind  feet  against  the  door,  leaving  it  shivered  and 
prostrate  within,  and  Dinah  not  only  willing  to  furnish  eggs 
but  all  the  poultry  the  inordinate  appetite  of  T de 
manded. 

While  engaged  in  repelling  Clingman's  assault,  Major 
Bartholomew  was  sitting  upon  his  horse  under  a  tree  —  the 
left  of  the  line  being  in  the  woods  —  when  a  shell  cut  the 
tree  off  about  twenty  feet  above  him.  Casting  his  eye  up 
wards  the  Major  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  the  next  moment 
the  top  of  the  tree  pierced  the  ground  where  he  had  been 
standing.  Whirling  his  horse  back  upon  the  other  side  of 
the  tree,  he  exclaimed  "  There,  I'm  safe  now  !  They  can't 
hit  this  tree  again  !  " 

Johnnie  Dorflin  of  Company  F,  would  at  any  time  kill  a 
pig  for  its  pluck,  and  being  suspected  by  the  provost  mar 
shal,  was  charged  with  foraging  against  orders.  Johnnie 
was  placid  and  silent  until  the  enraged  marshal  drew  his 
sword  to  enforce  his  authority,  when  our  equally  enraged 
comrade  (Greek  mit  Greek)  jumped  for  him  with  the  excla 
mation,  "You  t n  Tutchman,  you  show  fight,  me  show 

fight ;  you  draw  sword,  I  fix  mine  payonet !  "  The  marshal 


SOME    NEW   BRIGADIERS.  159 

disappeared,  but  on  his  return  to  New  Berne,  called  for  the 
arrest  of  John  Ilorflin,  but  the  order  was  returned  counter 
signed  "  No  such  man  in  the  regiment." 

Upon  the  return  of  the  expedition,  Gen'l  Foster  at  once 
repaired  to  Washington,  D.  C.  for  further  instructions,  re 
turning  December  27th  with  commissions  as  brigadier-gene 
rals  for  Cols.  Hunt,  Ninety-Sixth  New  York,  Stevenson, 
Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  Heckman,  Ninth  New  Jersey,  Potter, 
First  North  Carolina,  and  Ledlie,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery ; 
the  recommendation  of  Col.  Lee  being  rejected  on  the 
ground  that  "  it  would  not  do  to  appoint  more  than  one 
of  these  from  each  State,"  the  influence  of  Col.  Stevenson's 
friends  securing  the  Massachusetts  appointment  for  him. 

Thus  closed  the  operations  of  1862,  every  movement  by 
the  Union  army  in  North  Carolina  having  met  unquali 
fied  success.  Much  of  the  advantage  expected  from  them, 
however,  had  been  vitiated  by  the  failures  in  Virginia. 
The  brave  Army  of  the  Potomac,  after  a  campaign  of  un 
exampled  hardship  and  loss,  was  still  upon  its  old  camping 
ground,  with  the  problem  of  the  destruction  of  Lee's  army 
and  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  more  involved  and 
doubtful  than  ever.  At  the  "West,  Rosecrans  had  pressed 
Bragg  and  Breckenbridge,  and  closed  the  waning  year  with 
the  hotly  contested  battle  of  Murfreesboro'.  Stanley  was 
still  an  incubus  upon  our  department,  his  acts  construc 
tively  loyal,  but  menacing  to  every  militar}r  movement,  and 
neutralizing  every  plan. 


160  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

SOUTH   CAEOL1NA   EXPEDITION. 

THE  year  1863  opened  with  promises  of  unusual  activity  in 
North  Carolina,  the  following  troops  arriving  from  January 
2d  to  January  5th  : — 

Spinola's  Brigade  :  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-Eighth  New  York  ;  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-  Eighth,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-First,  One  Hundred 
and  Sixty-Eighth,  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-First,  One 
Hundred  and  Seventy-Fifth,  and  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiments. 

Nagle's  Brigade  :  Eleventh  Maine  ;  Fifty-Sixth,  Eighty- 
First,  Ninety-Seventh,  One  Hundredth  New  York ;  Fifty- 
Second  and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Regi 
ments. 

Ferry's  Brigade  :  Fifty-Eighth,  One  Hundred  and  Seven 
ty-Fourth  Pennsylvania  ;  Sixty-Second,  Sixty-Seventh  Ohio  ; 
Thirteenth  Indiana;  Thirty-Ninth  Illinois,  and  "  Les  En- 
fants  Perdus,"  the  latter  a  regiment  composed  of  all  nation 
alities,  known  as  "  the  lost  infants."  This  force  aggregated 
some  fifteen  thousand  men. 

The  monitors  "  Montauk"  and  "  Passaic,"  with  the  steam 
frigates  "Colorado"  and  "Dakota,"  had  rendezvoused  at 
Beaufort  Harbor,  the  original  "  Monitor"  having  been  sunk 
en  route,  January  1st,  in  a  gale  off  Hatteras.  The  armament 
of  the  monitors  consisted  of  one  eleven  and  one  fifteen  inch 
gun,  the  latter  of  which  carried  a  shell  of  four  hundred  and 
three,  and  solid  shot  of  four  hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  re 
quiring  a  pulley  and  tackle  for  loading ;  and  thirty-five  to 


THE    KEGIMENT   AT   WASHINGTON,    N.    C.  161 

seventy  pounds  of  powder  for  discharging  the  same.  In  a 
visit  to  these  ironclads  the  writer  was  welcomed  and  gener 
ously  entertained  by  Commander  John  L.  Worden,  the  heio 
of  the  original  "Monitor"  in  its  conflict  with  the  "  Mcrri- 

O 

mac."  One  side  of  his  face  was  still  discolored  by  powder 
blown  into  it  on  that  occasion. 

A  complete  reorganization  of  our  forces  occurred  during 
the  month  of  January,  each  of  the  new  brigadier-generals 
being  furnished  with  commands ;  and  on  the  29th  inst. 
Nagle's,  Ferry's,  Stevenson's  and  Heckman's  Brigades,  with 
Batteries  A,  C,  D  and  E  armed  with  rifles,  and  B,  F, 
and  I  with  full  batteries,  all  of  the  Third  New  York  Artil 
lery,  sailed  for  Beaufort,  S.  C.  Soon  after  Gen'l  Foster's 
arrival  at  that  place,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  him 
and  Gen'l  Hunter,  in  which  Gen'l  Foster's  troops  naturally 
sided  with  their  commander.  Gen'l  Stevenson  and  Col. 
Osborne  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Mass.,  with  Quartermaster 
Sleight  and  many  other  general  officers,  were  placed  under 
arrest.  The  War  Department  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
f  tiled  to  sustain  Gen'l  Foster,  and  he  returned  to  North 
Carolina,  re^rettinc;  most  of  all  the  loss  of  his  veteran 

7  o  O 

troops  under  Gen'ls  Heckman  and  Stevenson. 

January  4th  the  detachments  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Regt.  broke  camp  at  Newport  Barracks  and  Bachelor's  Creek, 
and  joined  the  detachment  at  Washington,  the  regiment 
becoming  once  more  a  unit  after  six  months  of  separation. 
This,  however,  proved  of  short  duration,  for  on  the  25th  of 
the  same  month,  Companies  G  and  II  under  Major  Barthol 
omew  were  detached  for  garrison  duty  at  Plymouth. 

About  this  time,  Gen'l  Foster's  "Orderly  Manning" 
obtained  permission  to  go  within  the  rebel  lines  and  recover 
his  brother's  remains  at  Kinston.  On  arriving  at  the  place 
of  burial  he  found  the  bodies  had  all  been  exhumed,  stripped, 
and  meagrely  covered  in  another  trench.  The  rest  is  as  well 
untold  :  the  body  was  not  recovered. 


162  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

We  had  now,  at  various  times,  held  most  of  the  important 
positions  within  the  Department  of  North  Carolina,  with  the 
best  of  opportunity  to  witness  such  society  as  remained 
within  the  lines.  There  were  few  intelligent  women. 
Most  of  the  females  remaining  were  so  coarse  and  unfemi- 
nine  in  habits,  as  to  degrade  their  sex.  The  leaden  eye, 
sallow  skin,  swaggering  gait  and  uncouth  slang  were  too 
much  for  the  Northern  man,  and  made  him  devoutly  thank 
ful  he  descended  from  a  nobler  lineage.  A  lady's  evening 
call  (they  never  speak  of  afternoon)  would  be  incomplete 
without  snuff,  and  to  omit  to  offer  it  to  a  caller  was  unpar 
donable.  After  the  compliments  of  the  day,  and  the  seating 
of  the  guests,  the  hostess  was  expected  to  pass  saucers, 
twigs,  and  a  bladder  of  snuff,  with  which  the  visitors  re 
galed  themselves  during  the  call.  Some  were  so  addicted  to 
the  habit  of  snuff-dipping,  as  to  indulge  in  it  upon  the  streets, 
regardless  of  their  disgusting  appearanue.  Snuff-dipping  is 
practised  by  women  alone,  but  clay-eating  is  common  to  both 
sexes.  Both  of  these  habits  produce  a  moral  and  physical 
effect,  clearly  marking  their  victims.  Over  eight  millions  of 
dollars  are  consumed  annually  in  snuff,  within  the  South,  at 
the  present  time. 

Contrabands  crowded  the  department,  bewildereel  in  their 
freedom.  Freedom  to  many  of  them  consisted  of  nothing 
to  do.  They  failed  to  avail  themselves  of  the  little  work  to 
be  found,  and  were  so  improvident  as  to  buy  their  tallow 
dip  only  when  darkness  enforced  it.  Others  valued  their 
freedom  with  its  opportunity.  To  impress  the  lesson  of 
their  lives,  I  take  th.eir  own  story  and  language. 

"  Well,  Uncle,"  said  I,  "  how  do  you  like  the  Yankees?" 

"Right  well,  sar  (my  name's  George  Washington,  sar), 
yuse  mighty  fine  people,  sar." 

"  So  you  feel  free  now,  do  you?  " 

"  Yes,  sar  !  yes,  sar  !  !  an  I  tank  deor  L  an  Massa  Linkum 
for  dat.  Dis  ole  man  hab  worked  a  heap  of  yeas,  an  de  Lor 


MAIL    STEAMERS    AND   MAIL.  163 

he  send  me  de  ole  woman  an  a  heap  o'  chilen.  Massa  he 
sell  some  afore  de  war,  an  tuck  de  ole  woman  an  de  rest 
fo  de  Yankees  come.  Now,  de  ole  man  am  lone  in  de 
world ;  but  de  good  Lor  an  Massa  Linkum  make  me  free 
(bracing  up)  an  I  shall  die  a  free  man  !  yes,  sar  !  Bless  de 
Lor !  ole  George  will  be  all  right  at  las,  bless  de  Lor  !  " 

President  Lincoln  had  just  issued  his  confirmatory  Procla 
mation  of  Emancipation,  and  language  was  too  weak  to 
express  their  overflowing  joy. 

It  would  certainly  be  gross  carelessness  to  omit  mention 
of  the  steamers  "  Ellen  S.  Terry,"  "  Dudley  Buck,"  "  Col 
lins,"  and  "Augusta  Dinsmore,"by  which  our  communication 
with  home  was  maintained.  Before  their  three  whistles 
were  given  as  a  signal  of  a  "mail  aboard,"  the  watchful 
eye  of  anxious  ones  would  descry  the  vessel  below  the 
blockade,  and  the  electric  news  would  fly  through  streets 
and  camps.  Nothing  so  thrilled  the  department  to  its 
centre,  or  started  such  a  hum  of  expectation,  as  the  arri 
val  of  the  irregular  "  muil  steamers."  A  jostling  crowd 
would  fill  the  wharf,  and  eagerly  enquire  before  the  steamer 
was  near  enough  to  cast  the  line,  "  How  much  mail,  Capt. 
Chnpin?" 

The  regulations  at  the  post-office  allowed  no  sleep  after 
the  arrival  of  a  mail  until  it  had  been  assorted  and  delivered. 
Some  idea  of  the  amount  of  letter-writing  in  this  depart 
ment  may  be  obtained  from  the  fact  that  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  letters  were  sent  North  from  New 
Berne  post-office  during  the  month  of  January,  seventy-five 
thousand  being  sent  on  the  "  Dudley  Buck,"  January  18th. 
It  occupied  seven  clerks  twenty-four  hours,  in  posting  this 
mail.  Nor  were  our  friends  at  home  negligent ;  sixty  five- 
foot  mail-bags  were  received  January  27th  and  28th,  with  an 
estimated  mail  of  seventy-five  thousand  letters,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  papers.  These  were  extra 
occasions,  however,  but  from  statistics  of  the  writer  (at  that 


164  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

time  military  postmaster  of  the  Department  of  North  Caro 
lina)  it  was  shown,  that  during  the  months  of  December  and 
January,  each  soldier  averaged  to  write  two  and  one-half 
letters  each  week,  and  to  receive  about  the  same,  besides 
newspapers  and  other  printed  matter.  More  letters  were 
written  by  the  soldiers  than  were  received.  John  Dibble,  a 
former  citizen  of  New  Berne,  and  a  staunch  Union  man, 
held  the  position  of  civil  postmaster.  He  is  now  a  valued 
citizen  of  Westfield,  Mass. 

At  each  arrival  of  steamers  from  New  York,  one  thou 
sand  daily  papers  were  received,  the  proportions  being, 
seven  hundred  "  Heralds,"  two  hundred  and  fifty  "  Times," 
and  fifty  "Tribunes."  The  "World"  was  classed  with 
Richmond  papers,  and  was  only  in  demand  among  (loyal?) 
citizens.  So  great  was  the  rush  for  papers  that  they  were 
sold  without  folding,  and  delivered  as  fast  as  the  ten- cent 
scrip  could  be  collected. 

Trade  permits  were  issued  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas 
ury,  and  every  store  in  the  city,  beside  many  private  houses 
and  temporary  buildings,  were  occupied  by  speculators  in 
sutlers'  and  naval  stores.  Sales  within  the  department 
were  ad  libitum;  those  beyond  the  lines  were  restricted  to 
sixty  dollars,  but  this  restriction  was  construed  by  Governor 
Stanley  to  allow  any  one  to  buy  this  amount  for  any  num 
ber  of  persons,  if  only  holding  orders  from  them.  It  was 
not  to  be  expected  that  those  who  obtained  their  appoint 
ments  as  division  or  regimental  sutlers  by  a  contract  to 
divide  usurious  profits  from  the  nation's  defenders  amongst 
certain  officers,  would  scruple  to  use  extreme  license ;  and 
hence  large  quantities  of  supplies,  by  this  means,  reaches 
the  enemy. 

February  13th  a  body  of  the  enemy  moving  on  Bachelor's 
Creek  to  try  the  mettle  of  the  Fifty-Eighth  Penn.,  was  met 
by  Col.  Jones  with  a  part  of  his  regiment  at  Tuscarora,  and 
relieved  from  further  duty,  by  the  killing  of  three,  and  cap- 


GUERRILLAS    FROM    HYDE    COUNTY.  165 

ture  of  forty-six  prisoners,  the  entire  force  falling  into  our 
hands.  At  the  same  time  Capt.  Graham  with  his  "  Gray 
Horse  Cavalry,"  made  a  raid  on  Greenville  from  Washing 
ton,  and  after  a  short  contest,  captured  ten  prisoners,  twen 
ty  horses,  and  the  entire  camp  equipage  of  that  outpost. 
The  frequent  raids  of  this  officer  and  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass,  from  Washington,  so  menaced  the  enemy,  that  in 
desperation,  they  blockaded  the  roads  with  felled  trees  for 
long  distances  in  all  directions. 

March  1st,  Captain  Joy's  company  of  the  First  North 
Carolina,  with  one  company  of  the  Third  New  York  Cav 
alry,  scouting  in  Hyde  County,  were  ambuscaded  by  the 
enemy,  seventeen  out  of  forty  of  our  men  being  killed  or 
wounded  at  the  first  discharge.  The  cavalry  charged  the 
ambuscade,  killing  many  and  capturing  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  with  five  men.  All  the  prisoners  held  safeguards 
from  Governor  Stanley,  but  they  were  safely  manacled  and 
placed  aboard  the  steamer  "  Escort."  The  officer  failed  lo 
arrive  at  New  Berne ;  it  is  known  he  did  not  escape. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  at  New  Berne,  Capt.  'Joy 
marched  the  prisoners  through  the  street  with  a  large 
placard  on  the  back  of  each, 

"  GUERRILLAS  CAPTURED  WITH  GOVERNOR  STANLEY'S  SAFEGUARDS," 

for  which  act  Capt.  Joy  was  placed  under  arrest,  by  order  of 
the  Governor.  The  captain's  fearless  course  while  editor  of 
the  "New  Berne  Progress,"  had  incurred  the  Governor's 
displeasure,  nor  did  his  unswerving  loyalty  fail  him  now. 
Governor  Stanley  soon  found  it  convenient  to  order  his  re 
lease.  The  enraged  cavalrymen  vowed  vengeance  for  the 
death  of  their  comrades,  and  returned  to  Hyde  County  the  7th 
inst.  with  every  available  man,  supported  by  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  First  and  One  Hundred  and  Third  Pennsylvania 
Regiments.  They  failed  to  accomplish  anything,  however, 
as  did  another  expedition  in  Jones  County  at  the  same  time, 


166          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

because  every  suspicious  person  was  armed  with  a  safeguard 
from  Governor  Stanley. 

March  14th  was  the  anniversary  of  the  capture  of  New 
Berne,  an  event  of  such  harrowing  remembrance  to  the 
rebel  heart,  that  it  became  chronic  to  attempt  some  "highly 
important  and  promising  movement  "  towards  its  recovery, 
upon  that  day.  Gen'l  D.  H.  Hill  had  assumed  command  of 
the  rebel  forces  in  North  Carolina  Feb.  24th,  1863,  and  had 
accumulated  a  considerable  army  at  Kinston,  N.  C.,  for 
offensive  work.  At  two  o'clock  the  afternoon  of  the  13th, 
Ransom's  and  Daniels'  Brigades,  with  cavalry,  attacked  our 
outposts  at  Bachelor's  Creek  and  Deep  Gully,  occupied  re 
spectively  by  the  Fifty-Eighth  Pennsylvania  and  Twenty-Fifth 
Massachusetts  Regiments.  Col.  Lee  ordered  the  Fifth  and 
Forty-Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiments  to  the  support  of  the 
outposts,  sharp  skirmishing  continuing  during  the  evening 
and  following  day.  At  an  early  hour  the  14th,  Pettigrew's 
Brigade  appeared  before  Fort  Anderson,  —  north  of  the 
Neuse, —  demanding  of  Lieut.  Col.  Anderson  and  the  Nine 
ty-Second  New  York  Regiment  an  unconditional  surrender. 
Information  was  at  once  signalled  Gen'l  Foster  and  the  navy 
of  the  situation,  and  the  answer  returned  "  My  orders  are  to 
hold  this  fort,  and  I  shall  never  surrender  it ! "  The  enemy 
immediately  opened  with  shell,  grape  and  canister,  which 
ploughed  the  parapets  and  exploded  in  the  fort,  or  richo- 
chetted  out  upon  the  waters  of  the  river.  The  fort  was  an 
unfinished  work  with  no  guns  mounted  as  yet,  and  the  gar 
rison  could  only  lie  with  fixed  bayonets  awaiting  the  charge. 

The  gunboats  "  Hetzel,"  and  "  Hunchback,"  were  aground 
and  could  only  use  their  long-range  guns,  but  the  "  Sey 
mour,"  "Shawsheen,"  "  Whitehead,"  revenue  cutter,  and  a 
schooner — with  one  gun  manned  by  negroes  —  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  scene  of  contest.  Four  batteries  were  also 
posted  on  the  river  above  the  fortifications,  and  for  three 
hours  New  Berne  was  treated  to  an  incessant  roar  of  artil- 


GEN'L,  FOSTER  ARRIVES  AT  WASHINGTON.  167 

lery  and  bursting  shells,  some  of  the  enemy's  shot  reaching 
the  field  in  front  of  the  "  Fair  Grounds."  The  enemy's  fire 
suddenly  ceased,  and  after  a  short  delay,  the  Ninety-Second 
New  York  moved  cautiously  out,  finding  them  in  retreat, 
and  their  position  strewn  with  three  bursted  cannon.  The 
grounds  were  ploughed,  and  the  trees  torn  as  though  de 
struction  had  run  riot.  Our  loss  was  only  two  wounded. 

Gen'l  Pettigrew's  colored  cook  was  captured  returning 
with  a  fish  for  the  general's  dinner,  from  whom  the  enemy's 
project  and  forces  were  ascertained,  with  the  additional 
information  that  Gen'l  Pryor  with  his  brigade  had  gone  to 
attack  Washington.  It  was  noticed  the  cook  wore  a  Union 
dress-coat,  and  to  inquiries  he  replied,  "  I  took  it  from  one 
of  your  dead  on  the  peninsular  campaign,  and  was  allowed 
to  wear  it  if  I  would  turn  the  buttons  with  the  eagles'  heads 
down,"  and  sure  enough  every  eagle  drooped. 

Gen'l  Foster  being  satisfied  that  an  attack  was  imminent 

o 

at  Washington,  ordered  eight  companies  of  the  "Forty- 
Fourth  Mass,  to  that  place,  where  they  arrived  the  16th 
inst.  Scouts  continued  to  report  the  enemy  in  considerable 
force  with  lines  well  advanced  towards  New  Berne  and 
Washington,  until  the  28th  inst.,  when  Gen'l  Foster  re 
turned  from  Wingfield  with  prisoners  from  the  Forty-Sec 
ond  North  Carolina  Kegiment,  from  whom  he  learned 
farther  of  the  enemy's  plans.  Sunday,  March  29th,  Gen'ls 
Foster  and  Potter  quietly  left  New  Berne  on  the  steamer 
"John  Faron,"  ordering  the  "  Phoenix,"  with  commissary 
stores,  and  the  "Thomas  Colyer"  and  other  steamers,  with 
Spinola's  Brigade,  to  follow  at  once. 

The  "  Faron"  arrived  at  Washington  the  morning  of  the 
30th,  and  Capt.  Jocknick's  cavalry,  with  Companies  E  and  G 
of  the  Forty-Fourth  Mass.,  were  ordered  to  reconnoitre  the 
Greenville  road.  After  advancing  a  mile  and  a  half,  they 
met  the  enemy,  before  whom  they  retired  with  a  loss  to  the 
Forty-Fourth  Mass,  of  three  wounded  and  prisoners.  Capt. 


168          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Richardson,  of  Company  E,  Forty-Fourth  Mass.,  was  also 
wounded  but  escaped  capture.  Capt.  Lyons  and  two  com 
panies  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Union  Volunteers  imme 
diately  crossed  to  Rodman's  Point,  but  were  driven  to  their 
boats  at  two  o'clock  the  following  morning  by  a  superior 
body  of  the  enemy.  These  two  companies  were  saved 
from  capture  or  death  by  the  self-sacrifice  of  a  gallant  negro, 
who,  seeing  the  boat  was  aground,  and  all  must  perish,  or 
one  for  all,  jumped  overboard  and  pushed  the  flat  into  the 
river.  The  brave  man  fell  lifeless  into  the  water,  but  the 
launch  floated  away  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  Union  loss  at 
this  point  was  three  killed  and  thirteen  wounded,  among  the 
latter,  Capt.  Lyons. 

At  five  P.  M.  it  was  evident  the  enemy  were  present  in 
overwhelming  numbers,  and,  in  the  midst  of  a  drenching 
rain,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  the  fortifications.  The 
available  Union  force  consisted  of  eight  companies  each  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  and  Forty-Fourth  Mass.,  two  companies 
of  the  First  North  Carolina,  Battery  G,  Capt.  Wall's  Third 
N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  Company  I,  Capt.  Jocknick,  Third  N. 
Y.  Cavalry.  The  consolidated  morning  report  for  March  30, 
1863,  gave  the  aggregate  strength  of  this  command  as  eleven 
hundred  and  thirty-nine  men  present  for  duty.  Company 
B,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  held  Blockhouses  Number 
One  and  Two,  covering  approach  by  the  river  and  Greenville 
road  west  of  the  town,  while  Company  F  held  Blockhouses 
Number  Three  and  Four,  guarding  the  Jamesville  and  Plym 
outh  roads,  with  the  river  approach  on  the  east.  Compa 
nies  C  and  D  were  now  placed  within  Fort  Washington,  and 
the  right  to  the  river  held  by  the  remainder  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  and  the  left  by  the  Forty -Fourth 
Mass.,  and  First  North  Carolina  Regiments.  When  these 
were  marshalled  behind  the  long  line  of  fortifications, 
they  at  once  revealed  our  weakness  in  numbers,  to  remedy 
which,  every  able-bodied  negro  was  ordered  to  the  works. 


DEFENCES    AND    ABMAMENT.  169 

This  was  our  first  experience  with  armed  negroes,  and  it  was 
wonderful  how  quietly  it  was  submitted  to  by  many  who 
had  loudly  declared,  "  they  never  would  fight  side  of  a  nig 
ger  ! "  Whitworth  shots,  exploding  shells,  and  bullet 
tz-z-zps,  were  wonderfully  persuasive  arguments  on  such  a 
question,  and  settled  it  once  for  all  with  the  garrison  of 
Washington. 

The  land  defences  consisted  of  Blockhouse  Number  One, 
near  the  river  above  the  town,  commanded  by  Lieut.  P.  W. 
McManus ;  Number  Two  on  the  Greenville  road,  Lieut.  Ira 
B.  Sampson  ;  Number  Three  between  the  Jamesville  and 
Plymouth  roads,  Capt.  J.  W.  Moore,  and  Number  Four  on 
the  river  below,  Lieut.  Pliny  Wood.  Each  of  these  block 
houses  contained  a  six-pound  gun,  save  Number  Four,  where 
a  twelve-pounder  was  substituted.  At  the  centre  of  the 
works,  and  rear  of  the  town,  was  Fort  Washington,  a 
small  but  strong  quadrangular,  bastioned  fort,  surrounded 
by  a  ten-foot  ditch  and  heavy  abattis.  Its  armament  con 
sisted  of  four  thirty-two  pounders,  two  six-pound  Wiard,  and 
two  twelve-pound  Napoleon  guns.  On  the  Jamesville  road 
was  a  thirty-two  pound  gun  under  command  of  Lieut.  W.  C. 
Hunt,  of  Company  A,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  and 
upon  the  Plymouth  road,  a  six-pounder  in  charge  of 
Corporal  Steele  of  Company  F,  of  the  same  regiment.  A 
redoubt  covered  the  river  bridge  containing  one  thirty-pound 
Parrott,  one  thirty-two-pound  Rodman,  and  two  twelve- 
pound  Napoleon  guns.  The  river-front  was  protected  by 
the  steamers  "  Louisiana,"  six  guns,  and  the  "  Commodore 
Hull"  and  the  "Eagle,"  four  guns  each.  The  available 
forces  for  defence,  army  and  navy,  were  then  about  fourteen 
hundred  men,  and  thirty-two  guns. 

The  enemy  were  under  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  D.  H. 
Hill,  and  consisted  of  the  following  brigades  and  regi 
ments  :  — 

Gannett's   Brigade,  Seventeenth,  Eighteenth,  Nineteenth 


170  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

North  Carolina,  Eighth,  Eighteenth  and  Fifty-Sixth  Virginia 
Regiments. 

Pettigrew's  Brigade,  Twenty-Sixth,  Thirty-Second,  Forty- 
Third,  Forty-Fifth,  Forty-Seventh,  Fifty-Second  North 
Carolina  Regiments. 

o 

Daniel's  Brigade,  Fifty-Sixth  North  Carolina,  Twentieth, 
Twenty-Eighth,  Fifty-Ninth  Virginia,  and  Sixty-Fourth 
Georgia  Regiments. 

Robertson's  (cavalry)  Brigade,  Fifty-Ninth  North  Caro 
lina,  Second  Georgia,  and  Seventh  Confederate  Cavalry  Reg 
iments,  —  in  all,  seventeen  regiments  of  infantry,  and  three 
of  cavalry,  with  forty  pieces  of  artillery. 

Gannett's  Brigade,  with  Starr's  Battery  and  the  Fifty- 
Ninth  Cavalry,  occupied  Clay  Hill  north  and  west  of  the 
town.  Pettigrew  and  Daniel's  Brigades,  respectively,  Rod 
man's  Point  and  Hill's  Point,  while  the  artillery  and  cavalry 
were  suitably  posted  for  offence  on  the  river,  and  defence 
against  New  Berne  via  land. 

All  the  inceptive  movements  of  the  enemy  were  wonder 
fully  favored  and  successful.  For  three  days  a  high  west 
wind  drove  the  water  from  the  river,  leaving  our  gunboats 
before  "Washington,  aground.  This  allowed  the  enemy  to 
plant  their  batteries  opposite  and  below  the  town  without 
opposition,  and  prevented  assistance  from  the  navy  below. 
By  evening  of  the  30th,  the  enemy  had  occupied  Rodman's 
and  Hill's  Points,  the  former  one  mile  and  the  latter  seven 
miles  below,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  river  from  the  town. 
The  channel  of  the  river  ran  close  to  the  shore  occupied  by 
their  batteries,  and  any  relief  must  come  through  the  capture 
of  them  or  the  hardy  experiment  of  running  the  gauntlet 
of  seven  miles  of  artillery  and  sharpshooters. 

The  investment  being  complete,  on  the  morning  of  the 
3 1st,  an  officer  appeared  on  the  Jamesville  road  under  a 
flag  of  truce  demanding  surrender.  Gen'l  Foster  returned 
answer,  "  If  you  want  Washington,  come  and  take  it."  A 


DEMAND    FOR    SUERENDER.  171 

demand  was  then  made  that  the  women  and  children  be 
removed  from  the  town,  but  which  our  officers  refused 
to  entertain,  returning  the  answer  "  Geu'l  Foster  declines  to 
receive  flags  of  truce,  and  will  fire  on  any  future  one  that 
appears."  The  surprise  and  disappointment  of  the  enemy 
is  best  set  forth  by  this  officer's  exclamation,  "  My  God  !  is 
Gen'l  Foster  here?"  At  noon,  Virgil  Gilbert  with  the 
schooner  "  Brooks,"  ran  the  enemy's  batteries  with  dis 
patches  to  the  fleet  below  Hill's  Point.  The  enemy  concen 
trated  every  available  gun  upon  the  vessel,  and  lined  the 
banks  with  sharpshooters,  but  its  light  draught  enabled  it  to 
avoid  the  channel,  and  the  high  wind  to  defy  the  enemy's 
fire,  and  it  reached  the  fleet  below  unharmed.  The  "  Com 
modore  Hull  "  was  aground  just  above  Rodman's  Point,  and 
the  disabled  boat  was  subjected  to  a  destructive  fire  of  solid 
shot  which  crashed  through  its  sides,  or  raked  its  decks,  dis 
mounting  its  guns.  Blockhouse  Number  Four  had  a  short 
tilt  with  the  enemy  in  its  defence,  but  its  gun  was  of  too 
short  range,  while  one  of  their  Whitworth  shots  went  through 
the  blockhouse  with  apparent  ease. 

April  1st  was  ushered  in  by  a  terrific  cannonade  from  Rod 
man's  Point  and  a  new  battery  at  Laurel  Hill.  The  morn 
ing  was  windy  and  clear,  and  the  "  Commodore  Hull"  with 
its  brave  crew  still  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy.  Lieut.  Sal- 
tonstall  stood  by  his  long  thirty-two  pound  Parrott,  though 
all  his  other  guns  were  dismounted,  and  the  "  Hull  "  careened 
on  its  side,  until  he  had  given  the  enemy  three  hundred 
shots.  Ninety-eight  balls  had  pierced  her  sides,  and  three 
guns  had  been  dismounted,  yet  her  commander  spurned 
the  thought  of  deserting  her,  declaring,  "As  long  as  there 
is  enough  left  to  mount  a  gun  upon,  I  propose  to  fire  from 
the  '  Hull ! ' " 

During  the  day  Lieut.  McManus  at  Number  One,  discov 
ered  the  enemy  placing  a  battery  on  the  island  above,  and 
dispersed  them  so  hurriedly  that  the  attempt  was  not  re- 


172  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

newed.  Fort  Washington  engaged  the  enemy  on  Clay  Hill, 
and  with  the  aid  of  Numbers  Two  and  Three  and  of  Lieut. 
Hunt  on  the  Jamesville  road,  succeeded  in  considerable 
interruption  and  damage  to  their  works.  William  Fuller  of 
Company  K,  West  Springfield,  received  a  severe  wound  in 
the  le«r  from  a  Whitworth  ball  during  this  action.  Col. 

O  O 

Lyman's  headquarters  were  at  Blockhouse  Number  Three. 
His  whole  time  was  given  to  the  easterly  defences  of  the 
town  and  to  the  comforts  of  his  men,  while  Mrs.  Lyman,  who 
had  been  spending  the  winter  there,  was  under  the  protec 
tion  of  the  hospital  flag,  rendering  such  aid  therein  as  the 
situation  afforded  opportunity  for. 

At  four  P.M.  Master's  Mate  McKeever  of  the  "Louisiana," 
with  Acting  Ensisrn  De  Camera  and  six  men  of  the  "  Com- 

O  O 

modore  Hull,"  started  in  a  sail-boat  with  dispatches  to  the 
fleet  below.  Hundreds  were  watching  them  as  the  sail 
caught  the  wind,  and  bore  them  through  the  waters  seething 
with  iron  hail.  With  a  charmed  life  they  sped  into  and 
through  the  raking  fires  of  Rodman  and  Hill's  Points  ;  defied 
the  searching  fires  of  sharpshooters  ;  and  though  often  hid  in 
the  splashing  waters,  at  length  drew  safely  up  to  the  fleet 
below.  A  shout  of  victory  and  derision  then  rent  the  air, 
which  the  enemy  resented  by  broadsides  of  shrapnel  and 
canister,  causing  our  exultant  spectators  to  hug  the  ground 
with  most  tender  emotion.  It  was  a  fashionable  way  of  ex 
pressing  one's  feelings  however,  for  at  such  times  one  can't 
well  be  too  thin  or  humble.  During  the  following  night  Mc 
Keever  returned  unmolested,  but  the  schooner  "  Brooks," 
loaded  with  ammunition,  was  considerably  damaged, 
although  it  succeeded  in  reaching  the  town  with  its  sup 
plies  unharmed.  The  wind  went  down  early  in  the  evening 
and  the  river  assuming  its  usual  depth,  the  "  Commodore 
Hull"  was  docked  and  repaired.  Over  one  thousand  shot 
had  been  hurled  upon  it,  one  hundred  and  nine  of  which 
had  taken  effect,  but  by  the  free  use  of  baled  hay  its 
machinery  remained  unharmed. 


FORT    HAMILTON    TAKES    PART.  173 

The  morning  of  the  2d  of  April  the  "  Commodore  Hull " 
was  again  in  its  wonted  place,  with  its  guns  remounted  and 
ready  for  effective  work.  The  enemy  opened  the  contest 
from  a  new  battery  opposite  the  town,  but  this  was  soon 
silenced  by  the  guns  of  the  "  Louisiana"  and  of  Number  One. 
A  detachment  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  crossed 
the  bridge  to  secure  the  deserted  guns,  but  a  deep  morass, 
defended  by  a  mass  of  infantry,  rendered  the  attempt  abor 
tive.  During  the  night  a  redoubt  was  built  by  us  on  the  river 
in  front  of  Number  Four,  and  armed  with  one  thirty-pound 
Parrott,  one  thirty-two-pound  Rodman,  and  two  twelve-pound 
Napoleon  guns.  This  was  commanded  by  and  named  after 
Lieut.  Hamilton  of  Battery  G,  and  manned  by  Company  F  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Rodman's  Point  was  annoyed  by 
the  sudden  appearance  and  effective  work  of  this  battery,  and 
opened  a  fierce  fire  upon  it  for  three  hours,  when  the  discom 
fited  enemy  at  the  Point  were  thrown  into  confusion,  and  their 
battery  silenced  by  the  explosion  of  their  Whitworth  gun. 
Fort  Hamilton  continued  its  effective  work  on  the  Point, 
until,  by  a  premature  discharge  of  one  of  its  guns,  James 
Baker  of  Westfield,  Seth  Liswell  of  Agawam,  and  Alfred 
Holcomb  of  Southwick,  all  of  Company  F,  were  severely 
wounded.  Baker  was  carried  bodily  over  the  breastwork?, 
losing  one  eye,  and  severely  burning  his  face.  Edward 
Miner  of  Otis,  Company  K,  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
face  by  a  piece  of  a  shell. 

The  enemy  had  now  six  batteries  on  Clay  Hill,  within 
eight  hundred  yards  of  our  works  in  the  rear  of  the  town. 
The  opposing  pickets  were  near  to  each  other,  and  being 
placed  after  dark,  often  trenched  upon  each  other's  lines,  but 
when  discovered,  were  peaceably  withdrawn  to  their  proper 
place.  The  picket  line  was  comparatively  safe,  for,  the 
enemy  being  disposed  to  a  truce,  we  had  every  reason  to 
sustain  it.  They  felt  sure  of  us.  As  one  put  it,  "  We 
are  sure  of  you  uns  soon,  and  don't  care  to  fight."  A 


174          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

rebel  officer  with  glass  had  been  reconnoitring  our  position 
from  the  Jamesville  road  two  mornings  past,  and  being  dis 
covered  by  Gen'l  Foster,  he  asked  Lieut.  Hunt  to  try  his 
thirty-two  upon  him.  The  first  shot  threw  dirt  over  the  reb, 
and  the  second  ploughed  the  ground  close  by  him,  the  officer 
brushing  off  the  dirt  and  continuing  his  work.  Gen'l  Fos 
ter  now  tried  his  hand,  and  the  ball  hugged  the  "  Johnnie's" 
position  so  close  that  he  moved  to  the  right  and  renewed  his 
work.  "That  will  do,"  said  Foster,  pleasantly;  "he's  a 
good  soldier." 

At  nine  o'clock  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  gunboat 
"  Ceres,"  Capt.  McDermott,  ran  the  blockade  without  oppo 
sition,  and  when  opposite  Rodman's  Point,  shelled  the 
enemy's  position  without  reply.  The  "  Ceres  "  was  loaded 
with  ammunition,  and  its  unopposed  arrival  was  unaccount 
able  to  us.  After  removing  the  ammunition  Companies  C  and 
I  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  boarded  the  "  Ceres,"  and  moved 
cautiously  toward  Rodman's  Point,  but  when  opposite  it,  the 
enemy  opened  with  shrapnel  upon  the  boat.  In  attempting 
to  withdraw  from  this,  the  "  Ceres  "  broke  her  rudder-chain, 
and  ran  aground.  Discovering  her  helplessness,  the  enemy 
opened  fire  with  double  energy  upon  the  "  Ceres,"  the 
"  Hull,"  "  Eagle"  and  Fort  Hamilton  joining  in  her  defence. 
The  most  intense  excitement  existed  among  the  garrison, 
as  our  men  were  huddled  in  masses  on  the  deck  of  the 
"Ceres,"  exposed  to  the  enemy's  missiles,  and  nothing 
seemed  to  draw  their  fire  from  the  unfortunate  vessel.  After 
some  delay  the  troops  were  removed  by  lighters  to  the  shore, 
but  the  "  Ceres"  remained  aground  until  eight  P.M.,  when 
it  was  docked,  with  one  man  mortally  wounded. 

The  casualties  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 
were :  — 

Alraus  Bliss,  Ware,  Company  I ;  wounded  in  thigh. 

Elmer  W.  Carder,  Springfield,  Company  I ;  wounded  in  thigh. 

James  Waters,  Blandford,  Company  I,  wounded  left  thigh. 


SPINOLA'S  GRACEFUL  RETREAT.  175 

A  general  artillery  engagement  ensued,  for  a  time  as 
exciting  as  any  of  the  siege,  during  which  a  new  battery 
was  opened  by  the  enemy  from  the  Blount  place,  taking 
Fort  Hamilton  in  reverse.  Its  position  was  masked  by  a 
hedge  fence,  but  by  a  loan  of  two  Wiard  guns  from  the 
bridge  redoubt,  we  unmasked  and  silenced  the  battery. 

Sunday,  the  5th,  was  a  regal  day,  not  a  shot  from  either 
side  disturbing  the  sacred  hours.  This  led  us  to  give  the 
enemy  undeserved  credit  for  religious  scruples.  Each  army 
was  busy  in  repairing  or  constructing  works,  expecting  tho 
lull  of  the  day  would  be  followed  by  double  activity  on  the 
morrow.  In  this  we  were  disappointed,  however,  as  the 
only  occurrence  of  the  6th  was  three  guns  from  the  "  Hull" 
to  the  Point,  which  received  no  reply.  During  the  night, 
Acting  Master  Josselyn  and  eight  men  ran  the  enemy's 
blockade  in  a  cutter  to  the  fleet  below  Hill's  Point.  Our  sup 
ply  of  ammunition  was  now  so  low  that  it  became  necessary 
to  economize  it,  by  paying  more  attention  to  accuracy,  than  to 
silencing  the  enemy  by  rapid  firing.  The  rebels  had  eight 
batteries  with  ten  rifled  and  six  smooth-bore  guns  pouring 
a  converging  fire  upon  us  from  Clay  Hill,  ploughing  the  face 
of  our  works,  besides  those  opposed  to  us  across  the  river. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  run  the  blockade  with  the  troops 
below,  Gen'l  Foster  ordered  Gen'l  Spinola  with  his  brigade 
to  return  to  New  Berne,  and  with  the  entire  available  force 
to  attack  the  enemy  via  Swift  Creek.  Three  days  later,  he 
did  attack  them  at  Blount's  Bridge,  but  lacking  the  skill 
and  judgment  for  such  an  undertaking,  after  a  two  hours' 
contest,  retired  to  New  Berne.  The  gunboats  below  Hill's 
Point  kept  up  an  intermittent  but  useless  fire,  the  question 
of  relief  to  Washington  being  remanded  to  the  valor  and 
endurance  of  its  garrison. 

Our  works  were  as  perfect  as  the  consummate  skill  of 
Gen'l  Foster  could  devise.  Parapets  were  turfed,  port-holes 
constructed  for  riflemen,  traverses  and  bomb  proofs  conven- 


176  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

iently  arranged,  and  every  man  assigned  to  a  place  and 
ready  to  defend  it.  The  siege  developed  a  folly  or  reckless 
ness,  which  led  the  men  to  engage  in  base  ball  and  kindred 
sports,  and  that  in  full  view  of  the  enemy  and  under  tire  of 
their  guns.  Suddenly  the  watch  would  cry,  "  Down,"  and 
all  would  drop,  or  rush  for  their  gopher-holes  like  frightened 
coyotes,  when  a  shell  would  explode  near,  or  a  solid  shot 
pass  ricochetting  towards  town.  During  the  most  terrific 
artillery  engagements  the  men  were  safely  ensconced  within 
their  bomb-proofs,  intent  on  games  of  cards  and  chess, 
apparently  unconscious  of  the  strife  without,  but,  on  the 
signal  of  alarm,  instantly  occupied  their  places  at  the  works. 
An  accident  occurred  to  Isaac  Powers  of  Prescott,  Company 
B,  which  proved  fatal  the  8th,  but  was  a  result  of  disease 
rather  than  of  the  siege. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th  a  new  battery  opened  a  sharp 
cannonade  upon  the  "  Louisiana,"  but  its  effect  fell  mostly 
upon  the  town.  It  is  asserted  that  at  this  time  a  sympa 
thizer  was  heard  at  his  devotions  praying,  "Bain  them 
down,  O  Lord !  send  the  shot  and  shell  thick  and  fast 
among  the  enemy,"  when  a  shell  suddenly  burst  in  his  chim 
ney,  and  he  fled  exclaiming,  "  Not  on  me,  O  Lord  !  not  on 
my  house."  The  explosive  friendship  of  a  shell  was  never 
reassuring.  One  woman  described  the  sensation  of  such  a 
siege  in  this  way  :  "It  seemed  as  if  a  score  of  spinning-wheels 
were  running  upon  the  roof  of  the  house,  and  claps  of  thun 
der  constantly  bursting  in  my  ears."  The  citizens  for  the 
most  part  lived  in  holes  dug  from  the  cellars,  and  retired 
there  on  the  least  alarm,  so  that  few  casualties  occurred 
among  them.  During  the  day  information  was  obtained 
through  a  prisoner  taken  that  an  attack  was  to  be  made  the 
following  morning.  Gen'l  Foster  inspected  the  entire  works 
with  orders  that  "The  works  must  lie  defended  to  the  last 
man."  His  form  and  bearing  infused  courage  and  confidence, 
and  it  was  no  secret  that  our  confidence  was  reciprocal. 


NAILING   THE    FLAG   TO    THE    MAST.  177 

At  four  o'clock  the  8th,  every  man  was  in  his  place  await 
ing  the  expected  assault ;  but  the  only  affair  of  the  day  was 
a  fruitless  duel  between  Fort  Hamilton  and  Rodman's  Point. 
The  enemy  were  largely  engaged  during  the  9th  in  opposing 
Gen'l  Spinola's  attempted  advance  via  New  Berne,  already 
noticed.  There  was  no  doubt  that  Spinola  was  fortunate  in 
avoiding  a  general  engagement.  Rodman  and  Number  Four 
had  a  sharp  contest  during  the  day,  and  twice  during  the 
night  our  forces  were  brought  to  the  works  by  false  alarms. 
The  last  alarm  occurred  the  morning  of  the  10th,  and  was  due 
to  McKeever,  Josselyn  and  De  Camora  again  running  the 
blockade,  this  time  with  two  schooners  loaded  with  ammu 
nition  and  forage.  These  supplies  were  an  imperative  neces 
sity,  as  there  was  not  enough  of  ammunition  to  have  with 
stood  a  desperate  and  persistent  assault,  while  for  three 
days  our  horses  had  had  only  sufficient  food  to  maintain  life. 
The  desperate  attempt  to  sink  these  vessels  had  failed  to  harm 
them  materially.  The  enemy  were  more  than  ever  exasper 
ated  at  this  successful  defiance  of  their  blockade,  and  kept 
up  a  continuous  fire  the  entire  day  upon  the  garrison.  The 
top  of  the  flagstaff  of  Fort  Washington  was  shot  away, 
when  one  of  our  men  gallantly  climbed  the  staff,  and  nailed 
the  flag  to  the  shivered  top.  As  he  was  about  to  descend,  a 
shot  struck  the  staff  below  him,  felling  him  to  the  ground. 
One  of  the  most  foolhardy  acts  of  the  siege  occurred  during 
this  contest,  when  one  of  the  garrison  mounted  the  parapet 
with  a  rocking-chair,  and  derisively  rocked  there  during  the 
hottest  of  the  fire.  It  was  a  miracle  that  he  escaped  un 
harmed. 

The  strengthening  investment  of  the  place,  and  the  cer 
tainty  felt  by  citizens  that  Washington  must  fall,  had  devel 
oped  intense  and  unconcealed  disloyalty.  Looks  spoke  a  Ian- 
gunge  more  exultant,  scornful  and  treasonable  than  words. 
Attempts  were  made  to  communicate  with  the  enemy,  but  a 
close  watch  by  provost  guards  rendered  such  efforts  too 


178  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

dangerous  for  ordinary  shrewdness.     The  enemy's  batteries 
were  watched  by  the  citizens  with  a  lurking  pride,  but  their 
shots  often  put  them  to  a  most  indecorous  haste.    One  woman 
was  seen  waving  a  cloth  towards  the   enemy,  but  an  hour 
later  one  of  their  shells  exploded  in  her  house,  much  to  her 
peril  and  disgust.     The  colored  people  were  loyal  and  help 
ful,  and  had  the  most  implicit  confidence  in  our  arms,  appar 
ently  thinking  we  could  withstand  the  world.     Whatever  we 
did,  was  all  right,  and  "  like  as  we  did  it."     When  McKee- 
ver  arrived  with  the  schooners,  one  old  woman  rushed  to  the 
wharf,  and  seeing  what  had  been  done,  straightened  up,  ex 
claiming,  "  Ise  a  proud  woman  dis  da!"     As  to  their  opin 
ions  of  us,  as  compared  with  their  former  masters,  one  said  : 
"  Seems  dat  uze  hab  different  heads  from  dese  yer  people." 
Early  the  llth  the  enemy  opened  a  rapid  fire  along  the 
entire  line,  raining  shells,  Whit-worths  and  canister  in  torrents 
within  the  works.     Number  Three,  Lieut.  Hunt    and  Fort 
Washington,  replied  with  coolness  and  precision,  dropping 
shells  in  the  redoubts  along  Clay  Hill,  and  dismounting  one 
of    their   guns.     Fort   Hamilton,    Number   Four,    and   the 
"  Hull,"  engaged  the  Point,  the  latter  being  silenced  about 
nine  o'clock  by  the  explosion  of  another  of  its  Whit  worth 
guns.     The  contest  was  continued  with  more  or  less  vigor 
the  entire  day,  the  only  casualty  to  us  being  the  loss,  by  one 
of  Lieut  Hunt's  gunners,  of  the  seat  of  his  pants,  by  a  piece 
of  a  shell. 

The  remarkable  exhibition  of  principle  on  Sunday,  the 
5th,  inspired  a  delusive  hope  that  the  enemy's  scruples 
would  renew  a  truce  the  12th,  but  a  most  desperate  en 
gagement  occurred,  the  enemy  firing  upwards  of  two  hun 
dred  rounds  an  hour  into  Fort  Washington,  and  propor 
tionally  so  along  our  works  and  the  river.  A  new  cotton 
b.ittery  opened  fire  upon  Number  One  and  the  "  Louisiana," 
which  was  returned  with  five-second  shell  and  hot  shot,  set 
ting  fire  to  the  cotton  and  dismounting  their  guns.  Discov- 


COTTON   BATTERY   AND    HILL'S    POINT. 


179 


ering  a  signal  officer  in  a  tree,  the  "Louisiana"  trained  its 
"  long  thirty-two"  upon  it,  cutting  the  tree  off  and  sending 
the  officer  headlong  to  the  ground.  At  the  same  time  our 
gunboats  at  Hill's  Point  made  a  desperate  attack,  the  roar 
of  the  ponderous  guns  of  the  "  Hunchback"  mingling  with 
the  din  of  strife  around  us. 

The  enemy's  works  at  Hill's  Point  were  ingeniously  con 
structed.  They  consisted  of  a  serrated  ditch  without  em 
bankments,  ports  being  cut  through  the  river-bank  for  their 
guns,  so  that  nothing  appeared  above  the  earth's  surface. 


This  construction,  together  with  its  elevation,  rendered  it 
impregnable  against  naval  attack,  while  it  permitted  a  plung 
ing  fire  on  the  channel  which  ran  close  by. 

The  night  was  dark  and  stormy,  and  the  "  Louisiana," 
like  a  watchman,  tolled  off  the  passing  hours  by  occasional 
shots.  With  a  groan,  its  shells  would  rise  with  comet 
trains,  then  like  a  parachute  would  hang  in  air,  when  a  scin 
tillating  sheet  of  flame  would  shoot  out  with  dazzlino-  glare  : 

o  o  o 

the  report  of  bursting  shell  would  then  return,  and  join  with 
the  peal  of  guns  in  the  surrounding  forests,  like  the  breakers 
of  two  opposing  seas,  echoing  and  re-echoing  until  it  died  on 
the  ears  of  our  comrades  at  New  Berne,  telling  them  the  ene 
my  were  still  at  bay.  At  such  times  there  was  a  terrible 
grandeur  in  our  surroundings  which  language  fails  to 
describe. 

The  13th  was  a  drizzly  day,  but  by  seven  o'clock  all  our 
guns  in  the  rear  of  the  town  were  fully  engaged,  a  new  re 
doubt  on  the  Greenville  road,  giving  Lieut.  Sampson,  at  Num 
ber  Two,  a  more  than  usual  prominence  in  the  contest.  At 
nine  o'clock  Rodman's  Point  and  the  Creek  Battery  opened 


180  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

upon  Number  Four  and  Fort  Hamilton,  and  at  two  P.  M.  the 
cotton  battery  and  the  guns  on  the  road  across  the  bridge, 
reopened  on  the  "  Louisiana,"  and  Lieut.  McManus  at  Num 
ber  One.  All  these  efforts  proved  harmless  to  us,  while  the 
hostile  guns  at  the  cotton  battery  and  bridge  were  speedily 
dismounted.  The  night  settled  dark,  rainy  and  cheerless, 
and  our  men,  smeared  with  mud  in  their  bombproofs  and 
wearied  with  constant  watching,  were  placed  on  three-quar 
ter  rations  of  meat  and  bread.  Orders  had  been  issued 
during  the  day  to  collect  and  save  the  enemy's  missiles  for 
use  by  us  in  case  of  necessity.  We  were  certainly  verging 
on  bitter  extremities,  but  there  was  no  diminution  of  purpose 
to  resist  to  the  last. 

At  ten  o'clock  an  alarm  was  given  bringing  every  man  to 
his  post,  and  through  the  darkness  we  strained  our  eyes  for 
an  explanation  of  the  larum.  Hill's  Point  and  the  river 
batteries  were  belching  forth  a  sheet  of  flame,  and,  mingling 
with  the  peal  and  din,  was  the  rattle  of  musketry  and  clash 
of  arms  below.  Nearer  and  nearer  the  contest  waged,  until 
at  eleven  o'clock  Rodman  joined  in  the  fray.  The  enemy  on 
the  hill  seemed  puzzled  like  ourselves,  and  opened  with 
grape,  canister  and  shell  along  the  entire  line,  our  guns  reply 
ing  with  vigor  and  effect.  All  was  intense  excitement  and 
suspense.  The  blaze  of  gun  and  shell,  with  glare  of  Parthian 
arrows,  and  peal  on  peal  in  quick  succession,  told  of  a  des 
perate  strife  ;  but  "  What  could  it  be  ?  "  By  the  flash  of  guns 
at  Rodman's  Point,  our  men  at  Number  Four  detect  what 
seems  to  them  a  phantom  steamer,  ploughing  its  way  up  the 
river  through  a  storm  of  fire  and  iron  hail.  Rubbing  their 
eyes,  already  strained  by  constant  watching,  they  pierce 
again  the  curtain  of  night,  and,  now  assured,  send  cheering 
tidings  along  the  line,  "  There's  a  steamer  coming!"  How 
we  trembled  with  hope  and  fear  as  we  saw  it  defying  Rod 
man's  murderous  fire,  and  as  it  emerged  from  the  gauntlet 
of  death,  we  were  in  ecstacy  of  joy,  the  lapping  of-  its 


THE  "ESCORT"  RUNS  THE  BLOCKADE.  181 

friendly  wheel  assuring  us  all  was  well.  As  it  passed  Num 
ber  Four,  the  garrison  gave  cheer  on  cheer,  which  received 
a  ringing  response  from  those  on  board,  and  three  steamer 
whistles  so  exultant  and  natural,  that  every  man  in  the 
beleaguered  town  exclaimed,  "  That's  the  'Escort'!  that's 
the  'Escort'!!" 

Gen'l  Foster  repaired  to  the  wharf,  and  as  the  steamer 
drew  near,  Col.  Sisson  jumped  ashore,  and  saluting  him 
said,  "  General,  I  am  here  with  the  Fifth  Rhode  Island  Reg 
iment."  Rome  immortalized  her  sons,  but  these  immortalized 
their  State,  and  how  grand  and  herculean  they  looked  as 
they  marched  ashore.  And  the  grand  old  "  Escort,"  too ; 
how  she  loomed  in  the  darkness  like  a  thing  of  life,  proud  in 
her  unconsciousness,  filled  to  the  brim  with  aid  and  comfort, 
and  yet  with  only  a  single  scar  to  tell  of  the  terrible  ordeal 
through  which  she  afforded  this  cheer.  Such  a  miracle,  or 
succession  of  miracles  !  Not  a  soul  had  been  injured  nor  an 
ounce  of  supplies  lost  or  damaged.  Such  cheers  and  wild 
delight  as  filled  that  besieged  town  is  given  only  few  to  know, 
and  we  say  now,  as  then,  "  God  bless  the  Fifth  Rhode 
Island,  and  that  noble  craft  and  crew  of  the  'Escort'!'' 
Lieut.  Pliny  Wood,  who  had  gone  to  New  Berne  just  previous 
to  the  siege,  and  Lieut.  F.  C.  Wright,  who  had  been  upon 
a  furlough,  were  on  board  and  had  been  below  the  blockade 
several  days,  ready  to  embrace  the  first  opportunity  to  join 
their  companies. 

If  the  night  closed  darkly,  the  morning  of  the  14th  was 
joyous  in  the  extreme,  for  no  doubt  could  now  exist  as  to 
the  end.  At  seven  o'clock  the  dogs  of  war  were  again  let 
loose,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  began  the  sharpest  artillery  en 
gagement  of  the  siege,  an  incessant  rain  of  shrieking,  burst 
ing  shells  and  howling  Whitworths  dropping  within  the 
lines.  At  two  p.  M.  the  batteries  on  Clay  Hill  engaged  the 
blockhouses  nnd  fort.  At  six  P.M.  Rodman's  Point  and  Fort 
Hamilton,  with  the  "  Commodore  Hull,"  had  their  usual  tilt, 


182  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

in  which  the  latter  cut  down  the  enemy's  flag.  At  six 
o'clock  A.M.  the  15th,  the  steamer  "  Escort,"  with  Gen'l 
Foster  on  board,  again  ran  the  enemy's  blockade.  One 
hundred  guns  in  quick  succession  greeted  it  from  Rod 
man's  Point,  but  still,  as  with  enchanted  life,  it  sped  its 
way  through  volleys  of  musketry,  to  Hill's  Point,  where 
sixty  more  shots  were  counted  ere  it  passed  beyond  and 
drew  up  to  the  fleet  below.  Gen'l  Foster  remained  in  the 
pilot-house  until  entreated  by  Capt.  Wall  to  go  below,  a 
shot  tearing  through  just  after  he  left.  One  cannon-shot 
passed  through  the  general's  room,  over  the  foot  of  the 
berth ;  a  shell  passed  through  a  boiler  on  the  stove  in  the 
galley,  also  through  a  bale  of  hay,  taking  off  a  negro's  arm, 
exploding  in  the  engine-room.  Another  shell  burst  against 
the  pilot-house,  shattering  it  badly.  Twenty-five  other 
shots  took  effect  in  various  parts  of  the  steamer,  but  it  was 
able  to  proceed  to  New  Berne.  Mr.  Patrick,  the  pilot,  a 
loyal  North  Carolinian,  stood  bravely  at  his  post  through  the 
terrible  fire,  like  the  Roman  soldiers  at  Pompeii,  receiving  a 
fatal  shot  in  passing  Hill's  Point,  but  held  the  wheel  until 
past  danger,  and  fell  expiring,  saying,  "  I  am  willing  to  die 
if  Foster  is  safe  !  " 

In  leaving  Washington,  Gen'l  Foster  issued  the  following 
order :  — 

HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  WASHINGTON,  April  14th. 
GENERAL  ORDER. 

The  commanding  general  announces  to  the  garrison  of  this  town 
that  he  is  about  to  leave  for  a  brief  time  the  gallant  soldiers  and 
sailors  of  this  garrison.  Brig.  Gen'l  Potter  will  remain  in  com 
mand,  and  in  him  the  commanding  general  has  the  most  perfect 
confidence  as  a  brave  and  able  soldier.  The  commanding  officer 
of  the  naval  forces  remains  unchanged,  therefore  that  arm  of  the 
service  will  be  as  effective  as  heretofore. 

The  commanding  general  leaves  temporarily,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  putting  himself  at  the  head  of  a  relieving  force  ;  having  raised 


GANNETT    DECLINES    TO    ASSAULT.  183 

the  siege,  expects  soon  to  return  ;  but  before  leaving  he  must  ex 
press  to  the  naval  forces  here,  and  to  the  soldiers  under  his  com 
mand,  viz.,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Forty-Fourth  Mass., 
detachments  of  the  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  Third  N.  Y.  Cavalry, 
and  the  First  North  Carolina  Volunteers,  his  thanks  for  and  admir 
ation  of  the  untiring  zeal,  noble  emulation  and  excellent  courage 
which  has  distinguished  them  during  the  sixteen  days  of  the 
enemy's  attack  on  this  fort,  and  feels  confident  that  the  display  of 
those  qualities  under  Gen'l  Potter  will  hold  the  post  until  the  siege 

is  raised. 

By  command  of  MAJ.  GEN'L  FOSTER. 

S.  HOFFMAN,  A.  A.  G. 

Gen'l  Gannett,  commanding  the  Confederate  forces  at 
Clay  Hill,  received  peremptory  orders  during  the  night  to 
storm  our  works  at  the  earliest  moment,  but  is  said  to  have 
returned  answer,  "I  should  lose  half  my  men  in  getting 
there,  and  the  other  half  in  getting  back,"  evidently  under 
standing  the  spirit  of  the  garrison,  if  overrating  its  abili 
ties.  The  enemy  seemed  crazed  at  their  failure  to  sink 
the  "Escort,"  and  plied  every  gun  bearing  on  us,  until 
earth  and  air  trembled  in  the  terrible  concussion.  The  artil 
lery  of  the  sky  joined  with  that  of  man  in  the  awful  strife, 
until  the  flash  of  Parrotts,  Whit  worths  and  muskets,  surren 
dered  to  the  livid  darts  and  crashing  thunders  of  heaven. 
3  he  air  was  rent,  and  forests  shivered  with  the  unearthly 
contest.  Rivers  of  rain  submerged  the  fields,  driving  us  to 
our  gopher  holes,  but  these  were  soon  filled  by  the  floods, 
and  the  men  driven  to  the  open  field.  The  storm  settled 
into  a  drizzling  rain  lasting  until  the  morning  of  the  16th. 
At  daylight  the  eighteenth  day  of  the  siege,  six  deserters 
informed  our  pickets  on  the  Jamesville  road  that  the  enemy 
were  in  full  retreat.  Capt.  D wight,  with  Company  A,  at 
once  moved  out  to  Clay  Hill,  planting  our  colors  on  the 
deserted  redoubts.  He  discovered  their  rear  guard  four 
miles  distant. 


184          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

It  is  not  possible  to  individualize  the  experiences  or  feel 
ings  of  these  days  and  nights  of  peril  and  anxious  watchings  ; 
to  explain  how,  through  a  siege  of  eighteen  .days,  amidst 
accumulating  dangers,  our  regiment  escaped  with  only  nine 
wounded  ;  or  how  the  puny  garrison  with  its  hundreds,  by 
superior  vigilance  and  courage  foiled  the  strength  of  thou 
sands.  The  siege  from  beginning  to  end  was  a  surprise,  and 
to  satisfactorily  explain  it  requires  more  information  than  is 
now  in  our  possession.  A  correspondent  of  the  "  Wilming 
ton  Journal,"  and  one  of  the  rebel  force  upon  the  south  of 
the  river,  says,  "  If  I  could  ask  Gen'l  Hill  just  one  question, 
it  would  be,  Why  didn't  you  take  Washington  ?  "  The  loss 
of  the  entire  garrison  was  only  seven  killed  and  twenty-three 
wounded.  The  "  Commodore  Hull"  was  struck  one  hundred 
and  nine  times,  the  "Ceres  "  seven,  the  "Eagle"  five,  and  the 
"Louisiana"  once  during  the  siege.  The  enemy's  missiles 
were  as  variable  as  imagination  could  conceive,  from  old 
scrap-iron  to  the  most  finished  projectiles  of  their  English 
sympathizers.  It  was  laughable  to  see  the  cringing  effect  of 
flying  shots.  Gen'l  Foster  was  standing  near  the  fort  as  the 
guard  ducked  for  a  passing  shell,  when  he  good-humoredly 
exclaimed,  "Don't  duck,  boys!  don't  duck!"  A  few  mo 
ments  later,  a  Whitworth  came  tumbling  end  over  end  with 
its  peculiar  howl,  when  the  general  ducked,  too,  saying, 
"You  can't  help  dodging  those  fellows,  can  you? "and  a 
negro  near  by  fell  flat,  exclaiming,  "  Gorra  mighty,  how 
dem  rebs  do  frow  dat  iron  !  " 

The  siege  was  an  artillery  duel  from  beginning  to  end, 
but  he  who  has  stood  on  the  field  of  battle  exposed  to  its 
dangers,  unable  to  actively  participate,  only  knows  how 
much  more  trying  the  position.  A  Cincinnati  paper  com 
menting  on  the  siege,  said,  "  The  boldness  and  courage 
evinced  by  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  has  yet  to  be 
equalled  ;  it  finds  no  parallel  in  the  rebellion.  A  handful  of 
men  besieged  by  more  than  ten  times  their  number,  cut  off 


INCIDENTS    OF   THE    SIEGE.  185 

from  all  communication  with  our  forces,  and  yet  would  not 
receive  the  suggestion  of  a  surrender.  Any  regiment  in  the 
service  may  copy  the  noble  example  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  without  danger  of  lowering  its  standard." 

Hill's  and  Rodman's  Points  were  immediately  occupied  by 
our  forces,  and  the  opposing  works  on  Clay  Hill  destroyed. 
Our  troops  arrived  at  Rodman's  Point  before  the  rebels  had 
fully  evacuated  it,  and  after  a  short  engagement,  captured 
their  works,  finding  one  Whitworth  and  one  twenty-pound 
Parrott  gun  exploded.  The  body  of  the  brave  negro  who 
gave  his  life  to  save  Capt.  Lyon's  company,  was  still  unburied 
on  the  strand.  On  a  tree  near  by  was  posted  the  follow 
ing  :  — 

YANKEES  ! 

We  leave  3*011,  not  because  we  can't  take  Washington,  but 
because  it  is  not  worth  taking.  Besides,  a  man  to  live  here  must 
be  amphibious.  We  leave  you  a  few  bursted  guns,  a  few  stray 
solid  shot,  and  a  man  and  brother  rescued  from  the  waves  to  which 
he  was  consigned  in  a  fray  with  his  equals. 

We  compliment  the  plucky  little  garrison  of  the  town,  and  also 
salute  the  pilot  of  the  "  Escort." 
Yours, 

COMPANY  K,  THIRTY-SECOND  N.  C.  S.  T. 

During  the  siege  an  artillery  sergeant  known  as  "  Zip," 
had  been  detailed  to  assist  at  managing  the  six-pound  gun 
at  Blockhouse  Number  Four.  Zip  had  a  weakness  for  eggs, 
and  one  afternoon  secured  permission  to  go  into  the  town 
for  a  supply.  While  upon  this  errand,  he  also  replenished 
his  supply  of  whiskey,  and  as  a  matter  of  convenience,  put 
the  eggs  in  his  pockets,  but  as  a  matter  of  taste,  stored  his 
whiskey  internally.  By  the  time  he  reached  his  quarters, 
the  eggs  were  all  broken  and  decidedly  mixed,  his  pockets 
and  appearance  indicating  a  very  eggs-acting  experience. 


186  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

So  disloyal  had  been  the  acts  of  many  citizens,  that  Gen'l 
Potter  issued  a  general  order  the  17th,  which  was  in  terras 
similar  to  the  following  order  from  the  provost  marshal :  — 

OFFICE  OF  PROVOST  MARSHAL, 

WASHINGTON,  N.  C.,  April  18,  1863. 

In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  "  General  Order,"  all  persons  resid 
ing  within  our  lines  are  requested  to  call  forthwith  at  this  office 
between  the  hours  of  nine  o'clock  A.M.  and  one  o'clock  P.M.,  to 
give  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  loyalty  to  the  United  States  gov 
ernment.  All  persons  not  conforming  to  this  order  must  remove 
within  five  days  beyond  the  federal  lines. 

CAPT.  W.  A.  WALKER, 

Provost  Marshal. 

April  23d  a  part  of  Spinola's  Brigade  arrived  at  Washing 
ton,  the  intention  being  to  occupy  the  position  with  a  full 
brigade.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  received  orders  to  ' 
return  to  New  Berne,  Companies  A,  B,  D  and  F  returning 
by  the  steamer  "  Phoenix,"  and  Companies  C,  E,  I,  and  K 
by  the  "  Thomas  Colyer,"  both  steamers  arriving  at  New 
Berne  the  25th  inst.  Marching  to  the  Fair  Ground,  we 
were  furnished  with  "A  "  tents,  and  hoped  for  the  rest  which 
the  constant  watching  and  labors  of  the  siege  had  fitted  us  so 
well  to  enjo}r. 

While  the  siege  progressed  the  contest  of  arms  was  heard 
daily  by  Major  Bartholomew  at  Plymouth.  The  most  intense 
anxiety  was  felt,  not  only  for  our  fate,  but  for  themselves, 
knowing  if  the  enemy  were  successful  at  Washington,  the  fate 
of  Plymouth  was  sealed  also.  The  force  at  Plymouth  con 
sisted  of  Companies  G  and  H,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass., 
Company  D,  Fifth  Mass.,  Company  C,  First  North  Carolina 
Regiments,  and  a  squad  of  cavalry.  The  untiring  activity  of 
Major  Bartholomew,  commanding  the  post,  assisted  by  such 
an  officer  as  Capt.  Sandford,  gave  the  little  garrison  enough 
to  do,  and  kept  the  enemy  at  a  safe  distance,  unless  when 


ROCKY   HOC    CREEK.  187 

present  with  superior  numbers.  March  20th,  eight  companies 
of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  under  Lieut.  Col.  Moulton,  and 
part  of  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regt.,  arrived  at  Plymouth, 
Col.  Moulton  assuming  command  of  the  post  as  the  ranking 
officer. 

On  the  23d,  an  expedition  consisting  of  Companies  F, 
I  and  K,  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  and  Company  II,  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regiments,  started  for  Wingfield  to  assist 
Lieut.  James  J.  Me  Lane  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Union 
Regiment,  who  had  been  attacked  by  the  Forty-Second 
North  Carolina  and  a  Virginia  regiment.  On  their  arrival  at 
Wingfield  they  learned  of  the  defeat  of  the  enemy,  and 
also  that  the  gunboats  had  prevented  a  part  of  the  rebels  from 
crossing  the  river,  and  that  these  were  now  in  the  vicinity 
of  Rocky  Hoc  Creek.  Our  force  landed  at  Holly's  Landing, 
five  miles  below  Wingfield,  at  daylight  the  24th.  Capt. 
Sand  ford  pressed  rapidly  forward,  reaching  Rocky  Hoc  Creek 
at  eight  o'clock.  Capt.  Denny  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass., 
being  in  command,  ordered  Capt.  Sandford  to  cross  the  creek, 
after  doing  which,  our  men  advanced  a  short  distance,  and 
developed  the  enemy  in  a  heavy  thicket.  Company  H  en 
gaged  them  sharply,  but  was  driven  back  to  the  gunboats, 
when  the  "  Perry"  and  two  guns  on  the  "  Faron  "  opened 
on  the  enemy.  Reinforced  by  Capt.  Foss's  company  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth,  Capt.  Sandford  recharged  the  enemy,  captur 
ing  one  officer,  with  one  of  their  killed  and  eighteen  of  their 
wounded,  all  of  the  Forty-Second  North  Carolina. 

Our  loss  was  — 

CHARLES  A.  FOWLER,  Compan}'  II,  Williamstown,  killed. 
John  W.  Allen,  Company  H,  Cheshire,  wounded. 
Curtis  C.  Gillett,  Company  II,  Southwick,  wounded. 
David  Monta,  Company  H,  Williamstown,  wounded. 

Gillett's  wound  proved  fatal  May  12th,  and  Monta  was 
discharged  for  disability  June  12th  following. 


188  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  enemy  were  pursued  without  result,  our  troops 
remaining  at  Edenton  until  the  next  day  when  they  returned 
to  Plymouth.  Gen'l  Foster's  "  Orderly  Manning  "  left  the 
expedition  at  Wingfield,  making  his  way  through  thirty-five 
miles  of  the  enemy's  country  to  Suffolk,  with  despatches  for 
Gen'l  Peck. 

April  30th  Capt.  Sandford,  with  volunteers  from  the  Twen 
ty-Seventh  and  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regiments,  under  com 
mand  of  Capt.  Flusser  of  the  navy,  went  up  the  lloanoke 
to  Hyman's  Landing,  to  capture  a  post  of  the  enemy.  Mr. 
Hyman  was  brought  out  in  his  night  dress,  but  was  ignorant 
of  any  rebel  post  in  that  vicinity,  until  the  probing  of  Capt. 
Flusser's  sword  reminded  him  that  there  was  one  near  a 
small  house  three  miles  distant.  Capt.  Sandford  at  once 
marched  to  the  point  indicated,  and  captured  twelve  cavalry 
men  with  horses  and  equipments. 


MARCHING    ORDERS.  189 


CHAPTER     IX. 

GUM    SWAMP. 

THE  eight  companies  from  Washington  had  hardly  settled 
at  New  Berne,  ere  they  received  orders  to  march  with  three 
days'  rations.  The  regiment  was  suffering  considerably 
from  scurvy  and  exhaustion,  a  sequence  of  the  siege,  but 
turned  out  as  full  as  on  dress  parade,  for  which — and  their 
appearance — they  were  highly  complimented.  At  four  P.M., 
April  27th,  we  boarded  the  cars  for  Bachelor's  Creek, 
leaving  there  at  nine  o'clock,  with  "one  hundred  rounds" 
each.  We  marched  twelve  miles,  in  company  with  the 
Fifth  Mass,  and  two  companies  of  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass. 
Regiments,  and  reached  Core  Creek  about  midnight.  The 
Fifty-Eighth  Penn.,  Forty-Fifth  Mass,  and  Third  N.  Y. 
Cavalry  advanced  by  other  routes,  everything  so  arranged 
as  to  give  an  exaggerated  appearance  of  force.  A  heavy 
rain  set  in  at  midnight,  which  lasted  until  one  o'clock  P.M., 
the  28th,  when  companies  D  and  E,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass., 
under  Capt.  Dennison,  moved  forward  as  skirmishers,  sup 
ported  by  the  Fifty-Eighth  Pennsylvania  Regiment. 

After  a  hasty  advance  of  thirteen  miles  to  Wise  Forks 
(otherwise  "Dover  X  Roads"),  they  came  upon  an 
intrenchment  along  the  railroad,  held  by  three  hundred  of 
the  enemy.  The  Forty-Fifth  Mass,  and  Fifty-Eighth 
Penn.  were  at  once  advanced,  but  with  an  alignment  which 
caused  mistake  as  to  their  identity,  and  which  resulted  in 
some  confusion  and  loss.  Meantime  Company  D  had 
advanced  under  cover  of  an  old  building  to  within  close 
range,  and  had  lain  down  to  shield  them  from  the  enemy's 


190  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

fire.  Their  position  was  critical,  which  being  observed  by 
E  company,  they  "rallied  as  reserves,"  and  charged  to 
them,  when  unitedly  they  rushed  upon  the  enemy,  putting 
them  to  rout.  Lieut.  J.  L.  Skinner  with  his  men  first 
scaled  the  works,  and  sweeping  to  the  left,  soon  met  the 
Forty-Fifth  Mass.,  with  whom  they  captured  twenty-five 
prisoners.  Sergt.  Edmund  Boltwood,  Company  D,  Amherst, 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  leg  during  the  charge  ;  the 
Forty-Fifth  Mass,  losing  one  killed  and  three  wounded,  and 
the  Fifty-Eighth  Penn.  one  killed.  Of  the  charge  of  Com 
panies  D  and  E  the  "New  York  Herald"  correspondent 
wrote  :  "The  pluck  of  these  companies  deserves  recognition. 
The  act  shows  that  the  indomitable  purpose  of  our  troops 
finds  no  discouragement  in  superiority  of  numbers  or  choice 
of  position." 

Our  object  being  accomplished,  the  force  was  ordered  back 
to  Core  Creek.  The  march  of  the  morning  had  been  very 
exhausting,  some  men  being  obliged  to  go  back  to  the  creek, 
but  the  return  after  dark  was  indescribable.  The  rain  at 
times  fell  in  torrents,  and  the  swampy  roads  churned  to  a 
pulp  by  the  morning  march,  now  lay  covered  in  long 
stretches  by  water  six  to  twelve  inches  deep.  "The  men 
fell  in  great  numbers  from  exhaustion,  some  like  stones, 
unable  to  move,  others  in  wild  delirium,  while  some  uncon 
sciously  continued  the  march,  deliriously  shouting  and  beat 
ing  the  air."  When  every  available  conveyance  was  full, 
stretchers  were  improvised,  while  others  were  borne  in 
blankets  by  sympathetic  comrades. 

Gen'l  I.  N.  Palmer,  the  commander  of  the  expedition,  re 
mained  at  Core  Creek  during  the  day,  but  learning  the 
condition  of  the  regiment  upon  its  return  to  that  place, 
petulantly  called  it  "  a  set  of  white-livered  cowards."  This 
odium  applied  to  a  body  of  men  returning  from  a  field  on 
which  they  had  been  so  victorious  that  the  enemy  dared  not 
follow  them,  furnishes  its  own  commentary.  With  neither 


CYRUS  ACANS,  Co.  E. 


WASHINGTON  I.  RI-R<;HAKDT,  Co.  E. 


CHARLES  N.  COOK,  Co.  E. 


EI.UAD  E.   MOORE,  Co.  E. 


JOHN  SHOALS,  Co.  H. 


LEVKRETT  CLARKE,  Co.  H. 


GEN'L  PALMER  LOSES  HIS  TEMPER.  191 

blankets  nor  overcoats  to  protect  them  from  the  falling  rain, 
our  men  made  such  shelter  as  was  possible,  in  doing  which 
they  unfortunately  (  ?)  stripped  the  side  of  a  shed  contain 
ing  Gen'l  Palmer's  horse.  Many  men  dropped  upon  the 
ground  wherever  they  could  find  a  place,  some  near  the 
general's  headquarters  ;  all  of  which  furnished  new  sources 
of  irritation  and  cursory  abuse.  Two  of  the  Third  N.  Y. 
Cavalry  having  been  killed  by  guerrillas  the  29th  inst.,  Gen'l 
Palmer  determined  to  capture  them  if  possible,  and  ordered, 
"As  the  Twenty-Seventh  could  not  march,  they  should  be 
kept  marching  until  they  could."  On  the  morning  of  the 
30th,  our  regiment  left  the  bivouac,  scouting  alone  eleven 
miles  to  the  house  of  a  Capt.  Goners  commanding  a  guerrilla 
band,  but  without  discovering  the  enemy.  Five  men  fell 
out  on  the  return,  Surgeon  Fish  securing  an  old  cart  and 
buggy  to  convey  them  back,  and  keeping  one  man  alive  on 
the  way  by  artificial  respiration.  For  this,  the  regiment  was 
again  censured,  and  Surgeon  Fish  threatened  with  arrest. 
On  the  morning  of  May  1st  the  regiment  marched  two  miles 
to  the  railroad,  and  were  returned  to  camp  at  New  Berne. 
The  effect  of  this  expedition  told  severely  upon  the  strength 
of  the  regiment  for  the  month  following,  a  daily  average  of 
two  hundred  and  thirty  men  being  within  the  hospitals  or 
answering  the  surgeon's  call. 

May  7th,  after  a  careful  inspection  of  the  barracks 
adjoining  our  camp  by  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman  and  Asst.  Sur 
geon  D.  B.  N.  Fish,  the  regiment  moved  into  them,  finding 
them  airy,  roomy  and  comfortable.  The  next  day  we  had 
the  pleasure  of  greeting  Major  Bartholomew  with  Compa 
nies  G  and  H  from  Plymouth,  and,  after  ten  months  of  sepa 
ration,  the  regiment  was  once  more  together.  The  same  day 
thirty  families  from  New  Berne  were  banished  from  our  lines 
for  disloyalty,  by  order  of  Gen'l  Foster.  They  were  taken 
on  cars  to  Core  Creek,  but  the  enemy,  who  had  been  previ 
ously  advised  of  their  coming,  refused  to  receive  them,  and 


192          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

burned  the  bridge  at  the  creek,  forcing  us  to  leave  seven 
carloads  of  their  effects  upon  the  ground. 

One  can  hardly  forget  the  enthusiasm  amongst  the  negroes 
at  this  time,  placards  being  posted  around  the  city,  calling 
for  four  thousand  men  for  "Wild's  colored  brigade." 
Street  processions  of  most  motley  characters  were  the  order 
of  the  day.  These  would  swell  to  multitudes  as  they  passed 
from  street  to  street,  singing, 

"  We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  to  a  sour-apple  tree !  " 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  negro  women  knew  no  bounds. 
Following  the  "  procession  of  recruits,"  with  glowing  faces 
and  distended  mouths,  they  seized  every  able-bodied  man  of 
their  race,  shouting,  "  We's  don't  want  nofin  of  you  round 
yere,  Bill  Joe  !  you's  looks  a  heap  better  in  de  crowd  dar !  " 
at  the  same  time  shoving  him  by  force  into  the  ranks.  That 
brigade  was  soon  filled  ! 

May  13th  Mrs.  General  Foster  presented  the  regiment 
a  handsome  full-grown  fawn  as  a  testimonial  of  the  high 
regard  of  herself  and  the  general.  The  presentation  was  at 
"  dress  parade,"  and  the  gift  was  received  at  "present  arms  " 
with  hearty  cheers  for  the  general  and  his  worthy  lady.  The 
fawn  was  a  great  pet  with  the  regiment,  following  us  in  all 
our  movements  until  at  Julian's  Creek,  Va.  There  its  fre 
quent  foraging  expeditions  incurred  the  displeasure  of  one 
of  the  citizens  and  it  was  shot.  It  had  the  utmost  confi 
dence  in  the  regiment,  and  in  times  of  danger  would  run  to 
us  for  safety.  Being  chased  near  Suffolk,  it  dashed  across 
the  river,  followed  by  the  gaining  hounds,  and,  reaching 
camp,  rushed  into  a  tent  and  leisurely  laid  down,  as  much 
as  to  say,  "  There  I  I  know  when  I'm  safe."  It  is  worthy  of 
notice  in  this  connection  that  it  was  a  frequent  occurrence 
for  the  general  and  staff,  with  Mrs.  Foster,  to  be  present  at 
our  evening  parade,  an  honor  highly  appreciated  by  the  regi 
ment. 


GUM    SWAMP   AGAIN.  193 

Frequent  depredations  along  our  front  by  the  enemy, 
secured  for  Col.  J.  Ritcher  Jones,  of  the  Fifty-Eighth  Penn. 
Regt.,  permission  to  attempt  to  dislodge  them.  Col.  H.  C. 
Lee,  Acting  Brigadier  General,  being  North  on  a  leave  of 
absence,  his  brigade  (consisting  of  the  Fifth,  Twenty-Fifth, 
Twenty-Seventh  and  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regiments)  was 
assigned  for  this  purpose,  and  with  three  guns  of  Riggs' 
Battery,  and  a  portion  of  the  Twelfth  N.  Y.  Cavalry,  ren 
dezvoused  at  Core  Creek  about  sunset,  May  21st.  The 
Twenty-Seventh  was  ordered  immediately  to  Col.  Jones 
at  Core  Creek  bridge  two  miles  distant,  while  the  remainder 
of  the  force,  under  Col.  Pierson  of  the  Fifth  Mass.,  were  to 
move  by  the  Dover  road  at  midnight,  and  divert  the  enemy 
until  Col.  Jones  with  his  own  and  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment  should  arrive  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy. 

At  eight  P.  M.,  as  the  moon  set,  the  Fifty-Eighth  Penn., 
followed  by  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  left  the  railroad  just 
above  the  bridge,  striking  into  a  chaparral  swamp  ten  to 
twelve  miles  wide,  unpierced  by  road  or  path,  with  foliage 
so  thick  and  tangled  as  to  shut  out  the  least  trace  of  light. 
After  penetrating  this  swamp  a  mile,  our  course  turned 
sharply  to  the  east  along  an  old  ditch  a  mile  and  a  half,  then 
as  sharply  due  west  ten  miles,  through  an  everglade  defying 
description.  For  miles  the  regiment  marched  in  single  file, 
through  indescribable  darkness,  following  their  leaders  by 
hand  upon  their  belt,  or  the  click  or  crackling  of  brush  be 
fore  them.  Interminable  snarls  of  briars,  vines,  and  brush 
beset  the  way,  the  former  clinging  tenderly  to,  and  torn 
obstinately  from  our  persons,  or,  in  unguarded  moments, 
snatching  our  caps  and  hurling  them  into  darkness  and  slime. 
Sometimes  in  flying  from  the  comrade  in  advance  the  biiars 
would  show  their  attachment  in  a  most  feeling  way  across 
the  neck  and  face,  or,  tangling  the  feet,  pitch  the  luckless 
adventurer  sprawling  into  the  seething  mire.  The  vines 
were  so  thick  and  low  as  to  require  much  of  the  march  to  be 


194  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

made  in  a  stooping  posture.  Every  step  was  attended  with 
a  slumpy,  sucking  sound,  as  we  sank  above  our  knees  and 
then  tugged  to  withdraw  from  the  sticky  depths.  Not  a 
word  was  audible,  nothing  disturbing  the  midnight  stillness 
but  the  labored  step,  crackling  bush,  or  screech  of  night-bird 
disturbed  in  its  lair.  As  the  column  changed  its  course  about 
midnight  to  the  \vest,  the  rear  of  the  line  was  temporarily 
lost,  by  one  of  the  men  catching  a  nap  as  he  stood  in  the 
ranks,  and  allowing  those  in  front  to  move  off  unobserved. 

O 

For  thirteen  hours,  without  other  rest  than  while  the 
guides  consulted,  the  column  slowly  worked  its  way  through 
this  trackless  wild,  passing  between  two  of  the  enemy's  posts 
unnoticed,  until,  at  nine  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  head  of  the  col 
umn  emerged  from  the  swamp  a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of 
the  enemy's  works.  Companies  B,  C,  G  and  K  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh,  under  Capt.  Caswell,  were  ordered  to  the 
Dover  road  above,  to  intercept  reinforcements  or  prevent  es 
cape  ;  and  Companies  D,  II  and  I,  under  Capt.  Sandford, 
supported  by  Companies  A,  E  and  F,  under  Lieut.  Col.  Ly- 
inan,  were  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy.  The  configuration 
of  the  ground  was  such  that  only  two  companies  of  the  Fifty- 
Eighth  Penn.,  who  formed  on  our  right,  could  engage 
actively  in  the  charge,  the  remainder  acting  as  a  reserve. 
As  our  column  moved  forward  at  double  quick,  Gen'l  Ran 
som  commanding  the  Confederates,  was  riding  leisurely 
down  the  road  toward  the  intrenchments,  but  discovering 
us,  turned  with  spurs  to  his  horse,  shouting  as  he  dashed 
towards  Kinston,  "The  Yankees!  the  Yankees!!"  Capt. 
Caswell's  force,  too  late  to  intercept  him,  gave  a  volley  as  he 
dashed  by.  The  charging  column  under  Col.  Lyman,  rushed 
to  the  house  used  as  his  headquarters,  turned  sharply  to  the 
left  and  gave  the  now  affrighted  and  demoralized  foe  a  volley 
as  they  closed  upon  them.  A  six-pound  gun  loaded  with 
shrapnel  was  turned  upon  us,  but  failing  to  discharge  was 
seized  by  our  advancing  lines,  while  the  enemy,  scattering  in 


A    SPLEXDID    CAPTURE.  195 

perfect  rout,  sought  refuge  in  the  swamps  at  the  right,  or 
escaped  to  the  railroad  by  a  path  new  and  unknown  to  our 
men. 

The  fortifications  consisted  of  two  lines  of  works,  one 
crossing  the  Dover  road,  and  the  other  the  railroad — each 
at  right  angle  —  one  line  being  occupied  by  the  Fifty-Sixth 
and  the  other  by  the  Twenty-Fifth  North  Carolina  Regiments. 
Col.  Pierson  had  moved  up  with  his  column,  meeting  the 
enemy's  pickets  at  daylight,  and  driving  them  into  their 
defences.  The  troops  then  formed  with  the  Twenty-Fifth 
Mass,  on  the  right,  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass,  across  the  turn 
pike,  and  the  Fifth  Mass,  on  the  left  of  the  railroad.  In 
this  position  they  skirmished  sharply  four  hours,  until 
serious  apprehensions  existed  for  Col.  Jones  and  his  force. 

Suddenly,  like  the  slogan  of  the  Highlander,  our  volley 
met  their  ear,  when,  writes  the  "New  York  Herald"  cor 
respondent,  "  There  was  a  shout  by  Pierson's  men,  '  That's 
the  Twenty-Seventh  !  I  know  their  lively  guns,'  and  the 
Twenty-Fifth,  Forty-Sixth,  and  Fifth  Mass,  dashed  forward 
only  to  find  the  enemy  had  skedaddled  to  the  swamp." 
Capt.  Sandford  hastily  followed  to  the  left  down  a  bank  to  the 
railroad,  where  he  found  the  main  body  of  the  rebels  re 
treating  up  the  track.  Col.  Lyman,  with  his  men,  inter 
cepted  the  demoralized  enemy  in  the  swamp,  when  they 
surrendered  without  opposition.  Levander  French,  drum 
mer  of  Company  A,  and  Wheaton  Lovett  of  Company  D, 
while  scouring  the  swamp,  came  upon  a  lieutenant  of  the 
Fifty-Sixth  North  Carolina,  with  twenty-six  of  his  men. 
The  lieutenant  was  perfectly  willing  to  surrender  to  an  equnl 
in  rank,  but  objected  decidedly  to  being  led  in  by  two  men 
with  a  pair  of  "  drumsticks, "as  that  would  not  comport  with 
"southern  chivalry,"  even  though  there  was  no  hope  of 
escape.  Accordingly  help  was  summoned,  and  the  lieuten 
ant  surrendered,  "French"  securing  the  officer's  belt  and 
revolver  as  evidence  of  his  accomplishment.  The  result  of 


196  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

the  movement  thus  far,  was  the  capture  of  two  hundred  and 
two  prisoners,  three  hundred  muskets,  one  piece  of  artillery, 
fifty  horses  and  mules,  and  a  large  quantity  of  supplies. 
The  rebel  loss,  beside,  was  one  killed  and  six  wounded.  Col. 
Jones,  remembering  the  aspersion  thrown  upon  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  on  the  last  march  to  this  place,  remarked  as  the 
work  was  closed,  "/don't  want  any  better  fighting  regiment 
than  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts!"  Capt.  D wight, 
with  two  men  of  Company  A,  captured  six  of  the  enemy, 
while  Lieut.  Pliny  Wood  found  two  rebels  hid  behind  a  log, 
and  forced  them  to  surrender.  While  gathering  the  enemy's 
muskets,  Dennis  Sullivan  of  Company  K  (Springfield),  was 
severely  wounded  by  an  accidental  discharge. 

Col.  Jones  now  made  a  costly  error,  doubtless  in  consid 
eration  of  the  tiresome  march  of  the  night  previous  ;  but, 
however  the  act  may  now  be  criticised,  there  was  none  at 
the  time  disposed  to  find  fault  with  his  allowing  the  column 
to  rest  on  the  field.  At  five  P.M.,  as  the  troops  were  pre 
paring  to  return,  our  pickets  were  attacked,  and  shells  came 
flying  over  a  belt  of  woods  along  the  front.  Col.  Jones' 
column  retired  to  Core  Creek  that  night,  the  Twenty-Sev 
enth  Mass,  arriving  at  McCoy's  plantation  at  11.30  P.M., 
closely  followed  by  the  enemy.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass, 
and  Fifty-Eighth  Penn.  Regiments  had  marched  thirty-one 
miles,  beside  taking  the  prominent  part  in  the  engagement 
narrated,  since  leaving  the  Creek  the  night  previous.  Camp- 
fires  were  not  allowed,  and  sharp  skirmishing  continued 
during  the  night.  John  R.  Rowley  of  Company  F  (Suifield, 
Conn.),  was  killed,  and  Albert  E.  Champlin  of  Company  E 
(Lee),  severely  wounded,  just  as  the  column  was  moving 
the  morning  of  the  23d.  The  wagon  train  and  prisoners 
were  hastened  to  Bachelor's  Creek,  guarded  by  the  Fifty- 
Eighth  Penn.  and  the  cavalry,  while  Col.  Pierson  was  left 
in  command  of  the  remaining  force. 

Not  deeming  it  prudent  to  attempt  to  reach  the  railroad 
bythe  turnpike,  Col.  Pierson  ordered  the  column  (the  Fifth, 


MORE    SWAMP    EXPERIENCE.  197 

Twenty-Fifth,  Twenty-Seventh  and  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regi 
ments)  to  make  a  detour  in  the  swamp,  towards  Tuscarora. 
He  plainly  heard  the  contest  waged  against  Lieut.  W.  C. 
Hunt  and  his  twenty  men  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  at  Core 
Creek  bridge,  but  for  some  reason  disregarded  it.  Soon 
after  entering  the  swamp,  he  lost  his  direction.  He  soon 
found  himself  near  the  railroad,  where  he  was  met  by  a 
courier  from  Lieut.  Hunt,  Avith  the  "  information  that  there 
was  a  regiment  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  him  at  the  bridge, 
while  two  others  had  moved  out  towards  the  Dover  road, 
but  that  he  would  hold  them  in  check  until  the  column  could 
reach  the  railroad."  Col.  Pierson  claims  to  have  understood 
that  the  enemy  now  hel{l  the  road  with  three  regiments,  and 
hence  ordered  his  line  to  move  back  into  the  swamp,  where 
it  wandered  for  hours,  so  near  the  railroad  as  to  hear  the 
locomotive  which  had  been  sent  with  a  train  to  return  them 
to  New  Berne.  Lieut.  Hunt  with  his  little  squad,  bravely 
held  their  position,  and  kept  the  enemy  in  check,  until 
ordered  upon  the  train,  when  they  moved  cautiously  down 
the  road  about  four  miles,  meeting  the  head  of  the  column 
just  as  it  emerged  from  the  swamp.  As  the  Twenty-Sev 
enth  Mass,  appeared  upon  the  track,  an  officer  on  the  train 
shouted,  "  What  regiment  is  that?"  and  well  he  might ;  for, 
smeared  with  the  black  mud  of  the  swamp  on  our  faces  and 
clothes,  we  looked  most  like  "a  negro  brigade."  Said  a 
correspondent,  writing  at  the  time  :  "  We  ran  up  about  ten 
miles  on  the  cars,  and  found  the  troops  just  emerging  from 
Gum  Swamp,  and  a  more  worn,  tired  and  pitiable  set  of 
men  I  never  saw,  wet  to  their  hips,  and  fairly  covered  with 
mud." 

We  avail  ourselves  of  an  extract  from  Capt.  Denny's  able 
history  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  describing  their 
experience  on  this  march  and  their  opinion  of  a  North  Caro 
lina  swamp  :  — 

"  It  was  four  miles  of  mud  and  slush  knee  deep,  —  four  miles  of 


198  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

thick  underbrush,  of  tangled  wild-wood,  of  brambles,  of  thorny 
copses,  of  water  courses  and  stagnant  pools  alive  with  creeping 
things,  and  crawling  things, — of  snakes  that  hissed,  and  adders  that 
forced  their  villanous  tongues  into  sight,  if  not  into  legs.  Through 
this  terrible  place  we  cut  and  slashed  our  way,  slowly,  tediously, 
grievously.  The  sun,  as  if  to  make  our  efforts  more  unendurable, 
poured  down  its  burning  rays  and  not  a  breath  of  air  came  through 
the  thick  foliage  to  our  relief.  Burning  with  the  heat,  exhausted 
with  fatigue,  men  called  for  water,  —  '  Give  us  water  ! '  Men 
scooped  up  the  thick,  muddy  water  in  their  tin  dishes,  water  black 
with  the  poisonous  roots  and  the  slime  of  swampy  pools,  and  cover 
ing  the  dish  with  a  dirty  towel,  or  a  long-carried  pocket  handker 
chief, —  anything  that  could  be  utilized  as  a  strainer, — sucked  the 
black  water  into  their  stomach.  Oh,  the  horrid  taste,  as  if  drink 
ing  pulverized  snakes  and  lizards,  and  oh,  how  it  griped,  and  served 
like  an  emetic  or  a  purging  powder  upon  those  who  imbibed  of 
the  noxious  compound.  In  that  fetid  pocoson  the  mixture  our 
soldiers  imbibed  had  been  seething  for  a  century." 

It  may  have  seemed  to  some  of  our  friends  that  our 
descriptions  of  these  swamps  were  overdrawn,  hence  we 
are  glad  to  corroborate  it  with  the  above. 

Our  tired  troops  were  soon  on  board  the  cars  and  whirling 
towards  New  Berne,  grateful  for  the  refreshing  breeze  of 
the  rushing  train.  The  force  opposed  to  us  consisted  of 
the  Twenty-Fifth  and  Fifty-Sixth  North  Carolina  Kegiments, 
and  Cook's  Brigade,  the  Fifteenth,  Twenty-Seventh,  Forty- 
Sixth,  Forty-Eighth  and  Sixty-Second  North  Carolina  Regi 
ments,  with  eight  pieces  of  artillery.  Comrade  Nelson  A. 
Kingsley,  of  Company  A,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  (West- 
hampton),  was  asleep  in  the  swamp  when  we  left  Wise 
Forks,  but  on  awaking,  discovered  three  regiments  of  the 
enemy  near  him.  While  musing  what  to  do  a  negro  ap 
proached,  when  Kingsley  retreated  further  into  the  swamp, 
neglecting  to  take  his  rifle  with  him.  The  negro  found  the 
rifle  and  left  without  discovering  its  owner.  Kingsley  wan 
dered  in  the  swamp,  dodging  the  enemy  at  various  places, 


DEATH    OF    COL.    JONES.  199 

and  made  bis  way  to  camp,  reporting  there  two  days  later, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  his  comrades. 

Just  before  emerging  from  the  swamp  in  the  rear  of  the 
enemy,  Comrade  King,  of  Company  I,  was  trudging  along 
more  asleep  than  awake,  when  he  marched  butt  up  against  a 
huge  forest  tree,  sadly  disfiguring  his  face.  He  suddenly 
opened  his  eyes  and  rubbed  his  disfigured  phiz,  exclaiming, 
' '  I  wonder  what  in  thunder  that  tree  is  doing  here  ! " 

The  Twenty- Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  had  just  reached  camp, 
when  notice  was  received  that  the  enemy  had  attacked  the 
outposts  along  Bachelor's  Creek,  with  orders  for  us  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  warning.  Companies  A  and 
I,  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regt.,  were  holding  the  Neuse  and 
Washi  no-ton  road  bridges  over  Bachelor's  Creek  at  Maple 

O  O 

Grove,  Sergt.  A.  S.  Bryant,  of  Company  A,  with  seventeen 
men  being  stationed  at  the  former.  This  force  was  at 
tacked  early  in  the  afternoon  by  the  enemy,  but  held  the 
position  until  the  arrival  of  Capt.  Tifft  with  two  companies 
and  a  section  of  Riggs'  Battery,  which  was  en  route  from 
Gum  Swamp  for  New  Berne.  A  medal  was  awarded  Sergt. 
Bryant  for  conspicuous  gallantry  on  this  occasion.  By 
coolness  and  rapid  firing,  Capt.  Tifft  impressed  the  enemy 
with  the  presence  of  a  large  force,  and  held  them  in  check 
until  the  arrival  of  Col.  Jones  with  D  and  I  companies  of  his 
regiment.  The  enemy  with  their  artillery  were  stationed 
at  a  house  eighty  rods  distant.  Col.  Jones  ordered  the  bridge 
relaid,  and  right  and  left  flanking  columns  thrown  out, 
while  he,  Avith  his  companies,  advanced  up  the  road.  He 
had  been  credibly  informed,  that  the  enemy  were  present 
in  superior  force,  but  he  gave  it  no  attention.  With  his 
orderly,  Michael  Webber,  he  advanced  a  few  rods  across  the 
bridge,  when  a  shot  pierced  his  breast,  breaking  his  spine 
and  lodging  -in  the  back  of  his  blouse.  He  fell  into  his 
orderly's  arms,  exclaiming,  "Oh,  Michael!"  and  expired. 
Our  men  then  fell  back  into  the  intrench raents,  while  the 


200  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

detachment  of  the  Fifty-Eighth  Perm,  who  could  now  hear 
their  regiment  heavily  engaged  at  the  Creek  railroad  station, 
hastily  returned  to  that  point,  leaving  the  two  companies  of 
the  Forty-Sixth  alone.  The  enemy,  however,  made  no  far 
ther  determined  attack  upon  them. 

While  deeming  the  act  of  Col.  Jones  imprudent,  we  can 
not  but  put  on  record  his  sterling  character.  Although  of 
rough  exterior,  he  was  a  man  of  principle,  and  fearless  in 
the  discharge  of  duty.  It  is  an  encomium  rarely  deserved 
when  we  say  of  him,  no  swagger,  bluster,  cursing  or  rum 
ever  defiled  his  lips.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  attended 
his  funeral,  but  amongst  the  obsequies,  there  was  no  more 
eloquent  sorrow  than  that  of  "poor  Mike,"  crying  like  a 
child  as  he  led  the  colonel's  horse  in  the  procession.  The 
enemy  retired  during  the  night,  our  loss  in  the  expedition 
and  during  the  attack  at  the  Creek  being  only  two  killed  and 
seven  wounded. 

We  cannot  close  the  record  of  this  expedition  without  re 
ferring  to  a  ludicrous  experience  of  our  comrades  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  and  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regiments,  as  they 
were  en  route  to  Core  Creek.  We  copy  it  verbatim  et  liter 
atim,  from  Capt.  Denny's  history  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass., 
page  202  :  — 

WHAT  is  IT?  —  In  marching  to  Bachelor's  Creek,  having  pro 
ceeded  about  four  miles,  the  column  was  halted  for  a  short  rest. 
It  was  far  be3'ond  the  midnight  hour,  and,  therefore,  the  wonted 
time  had  passed  when  churchwards  are  supposed  to  be  haunted  by 
all  sorts  of  sprites,  and  the  air  is  said  to  be  filled  with  the  harmo 
nious  music  of  the  spheres.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  men 
forming  the  Twenty-Fifth  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  educated  as 
they  were  in  the  schools  in  New  England,  possessing  all  the  general 
intelligence  marking  the  New  England  character,  had  gone  down  to 
North  Carolina  to  be  frightened  by  owls,  ghosts,  or  live  rebels,  or 
that  they  would  be  inclined  to  believe  in  stories  about  ghosts,  fair 
ies,  witches  and  apparitions.  We  say  this  while  we  well  remember 


THE    TWENTY- FIFTH   AND   FORTY-SIXTH    PUZZLED.       201 

that  so  great  a  poet  as  Robert  Burns.  .  .  .  said  —  "  though  no  one 
can  be  more  skeptical  than  I  am  in  such  matters,  yet  it  often  takes 
an  effort  of  philosophy  to  shake  off  these  idle  terrors."  But  if  poor 
Betty  Davidson  had  concentrated  all  her  ghost  stories  upon  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  as  it  was  halted  in  the  woods  on  that 
darkest  of  nights,  the  terror  could  not  have  exceeded  that  occa 
sioned  by  the  swift  passage  of  the  apparition,  the  phantom  rider,  the 
frightened  deer,  or  whatever  else  it  was,  or  might  be  supposed  to  be. 
Briefly,  while  the  battalion  stood  halted  in  the  road,  something 
struck  the  flank  just  below  Company  K,  which  had  the  advance. 
It  came  like  the  rushing  of  a  mighty  wind,  and,  suddenly,  the  reg 
iment  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  and  just  as  suddenly,  the  men 
were  heaped  up  promiscuously  in  either  ditch,  without  order  and 
with  no  regard  to  rank —  captains  and  lieutenants,  sergeants  and  cor 
porals,  men  of  the  front  rank  and  men  of  the  rear  rank,  number 
one  men  and  number  two  men  indiscriminately  piled  together  like 
the  pieing  of  a  printer's  form,  while  each  man's  hair  upon  his  head 
stood  erect  like  quills  on  the  fretted  porcupine. 

Capt.  Denny  stops  just  here,  leaving  every  one  to  draw 
his  own  conclusion.  From  our  knowledge  of  these  regi 
ments  we  append  our  belief  that  they  were  not  suffering 
from  too  much  "  Commissary,"  or  "Kentucky  sustenance," 
though  we  are  well  aware  such  results  are  very  apt  to  folloAV 
the  too  free  use  of  such  comfort.  The  captain  should  have 
added,  they  were  so  disturbed  by  this  apparition  as  to  have 
sought  a  neighboring  house,  inquiring  if  they  ever  had  commo 
tions  around  there  at  night?  Betsy  replied  "Law,  yes!  a 
heap  of  dem  !  When  you  uns  fust  come,  we  uns  had  a  right 
peart  time  chucking  de  Yankee  soldiers,  but  fust  we  knows, 
you  uns  cabal ry  came  into  de  csimp  over  dar  and  kills  all 
our  men.  Since  den,  we  can  hear  dem  cabal  ry  charge  ebery 
night  !  "  Many  of  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regt.  shared  in 
this  experience.  What  was  it,  Colonel? 


202  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  X. 

RESIGNATION  OF  COL.  LYMAN.  —  LIFE  IN  NEW  BERNE. 

FOR  nearly  a  year,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Muss.  Regt.  had 
been  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Luke  Lyman,  whose 
wise  supervision  and  thorough  drill  had  brought  the  regi 
ment  to  a  high  degree  of  efficiency.  His  knowledge  of  and 
proficiency  in  tactics  had  established  for  him  the  reputation 
of  a  field  officer  second  to  none  in  the  department.  Under 
his  command  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  had  been 
engaged  in  the  Tarboro,  Kiuston,  Whitehall,  Goldsboro, 
Gum  Swamp  and  Wise  Forks  expeditions,  and  the  siege  of 
Washington,  in  all  of  which  they  had  received  the  congratu 
lations  of  their  commanding  general.  Col.  Lyrnan  enjoyed 
to  a  remarkable  degree  the  confidence  of  both  officers  and 
men,  and  was  accessible  to  the  lowest  private  seeking  re 
dress  for  grievances.  On  the  28th  of  May  we  learned  with 
deep  regret  of  the  acceptance  of  Col.  Lyman's  resignation, 
and  received  his  adieu  in  a  few  chosen  words  upon  dress 
parade  that  evening.  The  officers  of  our  regiment  presented 
him  with  a  handsome  silver  set,  properly  inscribed,  as  a 
token  of  their  esteem. 

Through  some  informality  the  first  information  received 
by  Gov.  John  A.  Andrew  of  Col.  Lyman's  resignation,  was 
through  a  letter  of  Major  Walter  G.  Bartholomew  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  recommending  certain  promo 
tions,  which  drew  from  the  governor  the  following  endorse 
ment  of  Col.  Lyman  :  — 


Brevet  General  LUKE  LYMAN. 


GENERAL  LUKE  LYMAN.  203 

BOSTON,  June  5,  1863. 
MAJOR  WALTER  G.  BARTHOLOMEW  : 

No  official  information  of  the  resignation  of  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman 
has  reached  this  department,  and  while  the  within  letter  indicates 
that  such  resignation  has  been  tendered,  the  Governor  trusts  that 
it  may  have  been  withdrawn,  or  not  have  been  accepted,  believing 
it  would  be  a  great  loss  to  the  regiment  to  lose  so  able  arid  faithful 
an  officer. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency, 

JOHN  A.  ANDREW. 

A.  G.  BROWN,  Jr., 

Lieut.  Col.,  Mil.  Sec. 

Lieut.  Col.  Lyman  received  from  Congress  the  title  of  bre 
vet  brigadier-general,  for  conspicuous  service  during  the  war. 
Gen'l  Luke  Lyman  was  born  at  Northampton  Nov.  1,  1824. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  enlisted  in  the  Northampton  Artil 
lery  Company,  and  received  successive  promotions  therein, 
until  holding  its  command.  This  company,  though  by  name 
in  artillery,  was  really  an  infantry  company,  and  at  the  time 
embraced  most  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town.  He  was 
a  natural  leader,  and  his  ambition  seemed  best  satisfied 
while  drilling  his  company  in  the  manual  of  arms,  or  while 
engaged  in  field  evolutions.  It  is  admitted  that  much  of  the 
reputation  of  the  Northampton  Artillery  Company  was  due 
to  Capt.  Lyman's  inspiriting  presence  and  zeal.  Upon  the 
outbreak  of  hostilities,  at  the  request  of  members  of  Am- 
herst  College,  he  became  their  military  preceptor,  and 
infused  a  most  enthusiastic  military  spirit  among  the  stu 
dents.  In  retiring  from  service,  Gen'l  Lyman  returned  to  his 
position  as  register  of  probate  for  Hampshire  County,  and 
has  held  that  office  continuously  until  the  present  time.  He 
has  been  chairman  of  the  selectmen  and  overseer  of  the 
poor  in  his  native  town  since  1876.  He  is  a  man  of  large 
experience,  practical  knowledge  and  marked  individuality, 
and  well  fitted  for  enlarged  usefulness. 


204  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  command  of  the  regiment  now  devolved  upon  Major 
Walter  G.  Bartholomew,  an  officer  of  great  personal  mag 
netism,  restless  activity  and  presence  of  mind.  He  was 
brave  to  a  fault,  and  blind  to  all  opposition.  He  was  pro 
moted  to  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Eegt.  May  29,  1863.  Capt.  William  A.  Walker  of  Com 
pany  C,  senior  captain,  was  promoted  to  major ;  First  Lieut. 
J.  H.  Nutting  to  captain  ;  Second  Lieut.  J.  L.  Skinner  to 
first  lieutenant ;  and  Orderly  William  McKay  of  Company 
H,  to  second  lieutenant. 

June  6th  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regt.  relieved  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Mass.  Regt.  from  provost  duty  in  New  Berne,  and 
were  conveniently  quartered  within  the  town.  For  four 
months  they  were  subjected  to  the  demoralizing  influences 
inseparable  from  such  service,  but  maintained  their  high 
standing  and  discipline.  While  relieved  from  the  exposure 
and  peril  incident  to  outposts,  the  duty  was  no  less  exacting 
and  important.  The  execution  of  the  provost  marshal's 
orders  ;  the  ordinary  police  duty  of  cities ;  the  surveillance 
of  questionable  citizens ;  the  demanding  of  passes  from  all 
enlisted  men  ;  and  the  prohibition  of  all  travel  within  the 
city  lines  after  nine  o'clock  at  night,  all  devolved  on  them. 

On  entering  the  town  Capt.  Charles  D.  Sandford  of  Com 
pany  H,  was  appointed  provost  marshal  of  New  Berne,  with 
Lieut.  W.  C.  Hunt  of  Company  A,  as  assistant.  Captain 
George  W.  Bartlett  of  Company  K  was  at  the  same  time 
appointed  provost  marshal  of  Beaufort.  All  of  these  officers 
by  their  faithfulness  added  much  to  the  safety  and  efficiency 
of  the  department.  Only  one  unpleasant  event  marred  the 
execution  of  this  duty.  A  soldier  connected  with  another 
regiment  disregarded  the  authority  of  the  guard,  in  executing 
which  the  refractory  soldier  was  shot  dead.  The  occasion 
furnished  an  opportunity  for  the  expression  of  the  good  will 
existing  between  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  and  the  Tenth 
Conn.  Volunteers,  and  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment.  The 


ATTENDING  A  COLORED  CHURCH.  205 

regiment  of  which  the  offender  was  a  member  made  violent 
threats  of  retaliation,  but  received  information  from  our  com 
rades  above  that  "  if  any  trouble  was  to  be  made  with  the 
Twenty-Seventh,  they  must  be  counted  in."  The  affair  was 
a  very  unfortunate  one,  and  as  deeply  regretted  by  our  regi 
ment  as  by  the  unfortunate  man's  comrades.  The  guard  was 
deeply  moved  by  the  result  of  his  act,  but  was  exonerated 
and  sustained  by  the  commanding  general. 

While  on  duty  in  the  city  we  improved  the  opportunity 
of  attending  the  colored  church,  and  here  relate  what  Ave 
saw  and  heard  as  descriptive  of  the  religious  type  of  the 
negro  character.  The  day  was  a  hot  one,  the  thermometer 
registering  one  hundred  and  ten  degrees  in  the  shade,  and 
the  church  in  the  suburbs,  was  crowded  to  its  fullest  capa 
city.  A  well-proportioned  colored  man  occupied  the  pulpit, 
who,  in  a  simple,  fervent  prayer,  opened  the  services.  This 
was  followed  by  the  singing  by  the  congregation  of 

"  Roll,  Jordan,  roll. 
I  wants  to  go  to  hebben  when  I  dies, 
To  see  Jordan  roll ;  " 

which  was  sung  with  a  melody  and  pathos  -peculiarly  their 
own.  The  reading  of  the  Scriptures  was  an  indication  of 
the  preacher's  good  intention,  though  he  walked  darkly,  with 
guesses  and  ventures  vexatiously  mirthful.  The  long  prayer 
ivas  long  and  exhaustive.  First  humble,  then  persuasive, 
pathetic,  fervent,  grandiloquent,  uproarious,  roof-lifting, 
until  the  congregation,  moved  from  centre  to  circumference, 
were  shouting,  "Amen!  Tank  de  Lord!  Oh,  yes!  Come 
along,  mourner ! "  Amid  such  excitement  one  person  was 
carried  out  "  filled  wid  de  spirit"  (in  a  swoon).  This  to 
them  was  the  height  of  spiritual  life,  making  the  subject 
almost  a  saint,  for  this  frenzied  excitement  was  to  them  "  de 
power  of  de  spirit,"  and  as  such  encouraged. 

After  this  prayer,  and  the  singing  of  another  soul-stirring 
melody,  the  preacher  announced,  "  My  tex  is  de  fourth 


206  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

chapter  of  de  Keberlations,"  from  which  he  argued  his  call 
to  the  work,  —  "  Come  up  hither,  and  I  will  showthee  things 
which  must  come  to  pass  hereafter," — adding,  "An  I  has 
come  to  tell  dese  yere  sinners,  what  da  are  coming  arter." 
After  launching  out  in  a  glowing  talk  on  heaven,  he  closed 
with  the  peroration,  "  Bredderin,  1  feels  as  I  was  jus  afore 
de  golden  gates,  wid  de  shinin  streets  afore  me,  an  I  knows 
I  shall  soon  be  dar,  wadin  knee-deep  in  milk  an  honey." 
During  the  sermon  a  rat  ran  across  the  platform  in  full  view 
of  the  congregation.  A  good  "  brudder,"  not  relishing  his 
presence,  rushed  at  the  intruder  with  his  cane,  much  to  the 
amusement  and  disturbance  of  the  congregation,  the 
preacher  remarking  at  its  close,  "  Bredderin,  dar'll  be  no 
sturbances  up  dar  !  " 

The  contribution  was  an  essential  feature  of  the  pro 
gramme.  The  preacher  stated  the  amount  needed,  and  asked 
the  deacons  to  come  up  to  the  front  and  receive  and  count  the 
money,  while  the  choir  sang.  Very  few  came  forward  upon 
this  effort,  when  the  preacher  exclaimed,  "  We  wants  a  bet 
ter  chune  dan  dat ;  Brudder  Carter,  you  come  heyar  an  lead 
de  congregation-!"  Brudder  Carter  raised  an  old  soul-stir 
ring  melody,  which  the  dullest  spiritual  army  could  not 
resist,  when  they  came  forward  filling  both  aisles  with  a 
stream  of  contributors.  This  through  with,  he  added, 
"  Now,  while  Brudder  Carter  is  a  doin  de  singin,  let  de  choir 
an  deacons  come  yere  an  gib  dar  money."  It  was  after  all 
a  religion  of  heart,  if  not  of  understanding,  and,  in  spite  of 
incongruities,  we  have  always  held  in  high  veneration  the 
simple,  trusting  faith  of  this  dowrn-trodden  race. 

The  hospitals  of  New  Berne  were  the  pride  of  the  de 
partment,  and,  grouped  together,  were  named  in  honor  of 
our  commander,  "  The  Foster  General  Hospital."  Their  lo 
cation  was  the  finest  in  the  city,  upon  a  square  between  Craven 
and  Middle  streets,  and  with  the  residences  thereon,  and  the 
barracks  constructed  in  the  spacious  gardens,  furnished 


FOSTER    GENERAL    HOSPITAL.  207 

unequalled  accommodations  for  all  demands  made  upon  it. 
It  was  amply  supplied  with  every  remedial  agency  and  sur 
gical  appliance,  and  was  under  the  care  of  men  of  recogniz<  d 
standing  in  their  profession. 

The  medical  department  of  North  Carolina  was  in  care  of 
a  medical  director  and  a  medical  purveyor.  Surgeon  C.  A. 
Cowgill  was  in  charge  of  the  Foster  General  Hospital,  with 
an  able  corps  of  subordinates,  detailed  from  the  various 
regiments.  Capable  "nurses''  were  secured  from  the  con 
valescents,  whose  constant  experience  soon  made  them  skilful 
and  invaluable.  The  hospital  buildings  were  divided  into 
"  wards,"  and  these  w^ards  were  placed  in  charge  of  nurses, 
responsible  for  t^e  comfort  and  cleanliness  of  their  depart 
ment.  Neat  iron  bedsteads,  mattresses,  and  clean  linen 
were  abundantly  supplied,  with  reading  for  the  conva 
lescent. 

The  culinary  department  received  liberal  donations  from 
the  Sanitary  Commission  under  Dr.  J.  W.  Page  of  Bath, 
Me.,  and  contributions  of  delicacies  from  home,  beside  the 
ordinary  commissary  supplies.  The  spiritual  interests  of 
the  Foster  Hospital  were  in  charge  of  Chaplain  J.  W. 
Rouse,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  from  Rochdale,  Mass., 
whose  active  sympathy  and  unselfishness  made  him  peculiarly 
the  man  for  the  place.  The  adjoining  grounds  were  laid  out 
with  perfect  symmetry  and  taste,  and  richly  supplied  with 
beautiful  and  fragrant  flowers.  Those  who  were  able  were 
permitted  to  rest  within  the  shaded  bowers,  or,  if  willing,  to 
work  amongst  the  flowers  ;  while  through  the  window  the  suf 
ferers  might  feast  their  eyes  on  the  floral  beauties,  or  inhale 
their  fragrance.  This  hospital  was  for  the  relief  of  the  over 
crowded  "  regimental  hospitals,"  but  not  removing  their  ne 
cessity.  Additional  accommodations  were  provided  at  Beau 
fort  and  Portsmouth,  through  which  our  invalids,  during  the 
hot  season,  were  permitted  to  enjoy  the  invigorating 
breezes  of  the  sea. 


208  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  term  of  enlistment  of  the  nine  months'  regiments  hav 
ing  expired,  they  left  the  department  as  follows  :  — 

June  6th,  Forty-Fourth  Mass.  Regt. 

June  llth,  Third  Mass.  Regt. 

June  22d,  Fifth  Mass.  Regt. 

June  24th,  Eighth,  Forty-Third,  Forty-Fifth,  Forty- 
Sixth,  and  Fifty-First  Mass.  Regiments. 

The  Third,  Fifth,  and  Forty-Fourth  Regiments,  went 
directly  home,  but  the  other  organizations  were  ordered  to 
report  to  Gen'l  Foster,  then  at  Fortress  Monroe.  "  Gen'l 
Lee,"  with  rebel  hordes,  was  at  this  time  invading  Mary 
land  and  Pennsylvania,  and  these  regiments  (with  the  excep 
tion  of  the  Forty-Third)  offered  their  services  to  the  govern 
ment  for  the  emergency.  Their  offer  was  accepted,  and 
they  were  ordered  to  report  to  Gen'l  Scheuck  at  Balti 
more. 

We  are  sure  a  brief  notice  of  the  Forty-Sixth  Mass.  Regt. 
will  be  acceptable  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  its 
friends.  The  regiment  was  recruited  from  Western  Massa 
chusetts,  at  Camp  Banks,  Springfield.  Nov.  5,  1862,  they 
left  for  Boston,  where,  after  several  days'  detention,  seven 
companies  went  on  board  the  steamer  "  Saxon,"  the  other 
three  companies  being  upon  the  steamers  "  Mississippi,"  and 
"  Merrimack,"  with  the  Forty-Third  and  Forty-Fifth  Mass. 
Regiments.  The  Forty-Sixth  arrived  at  New  Berne,  Nov. 
24th,  camping  upon  the  "  Fair  Ground"  (peculiarly  "our 
camping  ground")  and  were  at  once  assigned  to  our  (Lee's) 
brigade,  and  armed  with  Windsor  rifles.  Companies  A  and 
K,  under  Capt.  (afterwards  Major)  Spooner,  immediately 
occupied  Newport  Barrack,  made  vacant  by  our  hasty  depart 
ure  for  the  T-trboro  expedition.  The  regiment  took  an 
active  part  in  the  Goldsboro  expedition,  and  boldly  met  the 
desperate  charge  of  the  enemy  at  its  close,  in  their  attempt 
to  capture  Morrison's  Battery.  Until  March  13th,  it  was 


THE    FORTY-SIXTH   MASSACHUSETTS.  209 

engaged  in  strengthening  the  fortifications,  and  during  that 
and  the  following  day  maintained  an  advanced  position  on 
the  Trent  road,  though  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy  in  their 
attack  upon  New  Berne.  On  account  of  the  assault  upon 
Fort  Anderson  (across  the  Neuse)  they  were  ordered  within 
the  fortifications,  but  on  its  repulse,  at  once  advanced  to  their 
former  position.  March  26th  they  reinforced  Major  Bar 
tholomew  at  Plymouth,  remaining  there  during  the  excite 
ment  attending  the  siege  of  Washington,  listening  with  keen 
anxiety  to  the  rumbling  cannonade  which  told  of  our  peril. 
Upon  the  arrival  of  Gen'l  Wessell's  brigade  at  Plymouth, 
they  returned  with  Major  Bartholomew  to  New  Berne,  May 
8th,  and  renewed  work  upon  the  fortifications,  joining  with 
us  on  the  Wise  Forks  expedition ;  not  to  omit  the  gallant 
defence  of  the  bridge  by  Companies  A  and  I  upon  our 
return.  But  while  what  they  did  was  creditable,  what  they 
would  not  do,  and  what  they  offered  to  do,  was  notably  so. 
Much  feeling  existed  among  the  nine  months'  troops,  from 
an  order  by  the  War  Department,  requiring  the  muster  of 
those  regiments  "  to  date  from  the  muster  of  its  last  com 
pany,"  by  which  several  weeks  additional  service  was 
exacted  of  each.  Gen'l  Foster  ordered  that  "  companies 
might  be  discharged  from  date  of  their  muster  if  the  appli 
cation  was  approved  by  the  commander  of  the  regiment." 
Although  it  added  more  than  a  month  to  the  ser 
vice  of  the  Forty-Sixth,  they  magnanimously  declined  to 
avail  themselves  of  the  order.  Col.  Jones  Fraukle  of  the 
Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  secured  upwards  of  one 
hundred  of  its  members  for  his  regiment.  Of  this  number 
was  Lieut.  Fordyce  A.  Dyer  of  Plainfield,  Mass.,  one  ot 
earth's  noblemen,  of  scholarly  attainments,  courage,  and 
self-sacrificing  devotion.  During  the  prevalence  of  yellow 
fever,  as  provost  marshal  of  New  Berne  he  refused  to  quit 
his  post,  and  while  laboring  for  others  fell  a  victim  to  the 
scourge  Oct.  26,  1804. 


210  TWEN7TY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

June  24th  the  regiment  left  New  Berne  with  orders  to 
report  to  Gen'l  Foster,  then  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Lee's 
army  being  at  this  time  on  its  raid  into  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland,  the  Forty-Sixth  volunteered  its  services  to  the 
general  government  during  the  emergency,  and  was  ordered 
to  report  to  Gen'l  Schenck  at  Baltimore,  and  by  him  was 
assigned  to  Gen'l  E.  B.  Tyler,  commanding  the  outer  de 
fences  of  Baltimore.  They  remained  here  on  provost  and 
patrol  duty  until  July  6th.  After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
they -joined  Brig.  Gen'l  H.  S.  Briggs'  brigade  in  the  pursuit 
of  Gen'l  Lee.  Proceeding  the  7th  by  rail  to  Monocacy 
Junction  and  Sandy  Hook,  they  were  ordered  to  "  occupy 
and  hold  Maryland  Heights,"  the  enemy  being  in  force  at 
Harper's  Ferry.  Here  they  remained,  picketing  the  Sharps- 
burg  road,  until  nine  P.M.  the  llth,  when,  after  a  continuous 
and  exhaustive  march  of  twenty-four  hours,  they  joined  the 
First  Corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac,  at  Fuukstown.  While 
the  army  was  crossing  the  Potomac  at  Berlin,  the  regiment 
unexpectedly  received  orders  to  proceed  by  shortest  route 
to  Massachusetts,  in  obedience  to  which  they  reached 
Springfield  July  21st.  The  Forty-Sixth  Mass,  was  mustered 
from  service  July  29,  1863,  on  Hampden  Park,  by  Capt. 
Gardner,  United  States  mustering  officer.  The  regiment 
lost  sixty-four  men  from  wounds  or  disease  while  in  service. 

The  Third  and  Eighth  Mass.  Regiments  were  unfortu 
nately  armed  with  Austrian  rifles,  which,  after  a  short  and 
unsatisfactory  experience,  they  suggestively  named  ''rusty 
trifles"  a  parody  upon  the  common  "  trusty  rifles."  But  for 
these  arms,  these  regiments  would  have  gone  to  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  with  the  force  in  January. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Capt.  Daniel  Messenger  as  pro 
vost  marshal,  Col.  H.  C.  Lee  was  appointed  Provost  Marshal 
General  of  the  Department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 
holding  final  decision  over  all  questions  of  appeal  from  the 
rulings  of  the  provost  marshals  of  the  various  posts.  Of 


KEENANSVILLE    AND    WARSAW    EXPEDITION.  211 

this  appointment  the  "New  York  Herald"  correspondent 
wrote,  "  No  better  selection  for  this  important  and  respon 
sible  position  could  have  been  made  in  the  department. 
Col.  Lee  is  known  as  a  sagacious,  vigilant  and  impartial 
officer.  His  integrity  and  zeal  are  beyond  question,  and  his 
ability  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  station  will  be  proven  when 
ever  opportunity  offers." 

July  4th,  Gen'l  Heckman,  with  the  Seventeenth,  Twenty- 
Third,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Ninth  New  Jersey,  and  One 
Hundred  Fifty-Eighth  New  York  Regiments,  advanced  thirty 
miles  into  the  country  in  support  of  a  raid  of  the  Third  New 
York  Cavalry  upon  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad. 
The  first  night  we  bivouacked  on  a  large  plain  five  miles 
beyond  Pollocksville,  and  resumed  our  march  at  four  o'clock 
the  morning  of  the  5th,  halting  about  ten  o'clock  five  miles 
beyond  Trenton.  From  this  point  the  expedition  proceeded 
to  Keenansville  and  Warsaw,  destroying  two  trains  of  cars ; 
manufactories  of  knapsacks,  salt  and  saltpetre ;  besides  an 
iron  foundry.  We  succeeded  in  capturing  a  rebel  mail, 
three  hundred  horses  and  mules  from  a  deserted  cavalry 
camp,  and  a  large  quantity  of  army  stores.  July  17th  a 
raid  was  made  upon  Rocky  Mount  near  Tarboro,  a  diversion 
in  its  favor  being  made  by  the  Twenty-Seventh  and  left 
wing  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regiments.  We  crossed 
the  Neuse  River,  and  advanced  to  Swift  Creek,  where  we 
remained  until  the  20th  inst.  The  result  of  this  expedition 
was  the  burning  of  the  railroad  bridge  three  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  long,  at  Rocky  Mount,  with  four  hundred  feet  of 
trestle-work,  a  cotton  mill,  machine  shop,  an  engine,  a  train 
of  cars  and  eight  hundred  bales  of  cotton.  The  column 
then  made  a  detour  to  Tarboro,  and  destroyed  two  steamers, 
a  partially  completed  ironclad,  and  one  hundred  bales  of 
cotton.  Although  harassed  by  the  enemy,  front  and  rear, 
upon  their  return,  they  reached  camp  with  a  loss  of  only 
twenty-five  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 


212  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

July  11,  1863,  Gen'l  Dix  was  relieved  from  command  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  that  part  of  North  Carolina  and  southern 
Virginia  occupied  by  our  forces  being  consolidated  into  one 
department.  This  was  known  as  the  Department  of  Vir 
ginia  and  North  Carolina,  and  was  placed  under  command  of 
Maj.  Gen'l  John  G.  Foster,  with  headquarters  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  On  his  departure  from  New  Berne  July  29,  18(53, 
he  issued 

GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  105. 

As  the  enlargement  of  his  command  will  remove 
the  major-general  commanding  from  immediate  association  with  the 
corps  he  has  so  long  commanded,  he  desires  to  express  to  them  the 
satisfaction  he  has  alwa}'s  frit  at  the  courage,  discipline  and  invari 
able  good  conduct  exhibited  by  them. 

He  hopes  that  on  future  fields  under  his  command,  the}'  will  sus 
tain  their  high  reputation  and  vie  in  honorable  rivalry  with  their 
companions  of  the  Seventh  Army  Corps,  many  of  whom  are  old 
friends  and  comrades,  and  sharers  of  the  glories  and  perils  of  the 
Burnside  Expedition. 

By  command  of  Major  General  J.  G.  Foster. 

(Signed)  S.  HOFFMAN, 

A.  A.  Gen'l. 

The  Department  of  North  Carolina  Avas  soon  after  placed 
under  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  John  J.  Peck,  an  officer  of 
national  reputation,  gained  by  his  conduct  during  McClellan's 
peninsular  campaign,  and  his  vigorous  defence  of  Suffolk, 
Va.,  during  its  twenty-four  days'  siege  by  Longstreet's  rebel 
forces.  The  Department  of  North  Carolina  was  by  him  sub 
divided  into  the  following  districts  :  First  district,  New  Berne 
and  vicinity ;  district  of  Pamlico,  Washington  and  vicinity ; 
district  of  Albemarle,  all  points  held  upon  that  sound  or 
rivers  entering  the  same,  including  Koanoke  Island ;  and  the 
district  of  Beaufort,  the  country  contiguous  to  that  place. 

Under  the  exacting  service  to  which  the  entire  Union  army 
had  been  subjected,  it  now  contained  a  great  many  men 


VETERAN    RESERVES LIEUT.    WARNER.  213 

unlit  for  active  duty,  but  not  sufficiently  disabled  to  warrant 
their  discharge.  Many  able-bodied  men  were  being  used  to 
garrison  forts,  protect  communications,  and  also  as  nurses 
within  hospitals.  From  such  causes  the  effectiveness  of  our 
army  had  been  so  crippled,  that  it  was  decided  to  organize 
the  Invalid  or  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  from  the  disabled 
class,  and  with  them  relieve  able-bodied  men  for  service  in 
the  field.  By  General  Order,  No.  229 ,  from  the  War  Depart 
ment,  rules  for  the  transferrai  of  disabled  soldiers  were  pro 
mulgated,  and  Aug.  30,  1863,  Lieut.  George  W.  Warner 
and  sixty-four  men  of  our  regiment  were  transferred  to  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

The  meritorious  services  of  Lieut.  Warner  deserve 
more  than  a  passing  notice.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
he  was  "turnkey"  at  Hampden  County  Jail,  Springfield, 
Mass.  He  enlisted  Sept.  13,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Com 
pany  K,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  and  was  mustered 
first  lieutenant  of  the  same  Oct.  16,  1861.  When  the  regi 
ment  left  the  State,  November  2d,  he  remained  to  secure 
stragglers,  but  rejoined  the  regiment  at  Annapolis  empty 
handed,  reporting,  "  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  had  no  such 
men."  While  standing  with  his  company  in  the  battle  of 
New  Berne,  his  right  foot  was  shattered  by  a  grape  shot  and 
was  amputated  on  the  field.  He  was  of  the  first  to  share  the 
hospitalities  of  the  New  England  Rooms,  New  York  City, 
and  with  the  aid  of  crutches  reached  his  home  the  May  fol 
lowing.  His  four  months'  leave  of  absence  was  extended 

O 

to  Jan.  1,  1863,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Little 
Washington,  participating  in  the  siege.  Incapacitated  for 
marching,  he  was  appointed  commissary  of  subsistence  for  the 
poor  till  Aug.  30,  1863,  when  by  "  General  Order  229,"  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  Col.  Nugent,  New  York  City.  He  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Twenty-Sixth  Company,  Second  Battalion 
Veteran  Reserve  Corps  at  Fort  Schuyler  and  Willis  Point. 


214  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Feb.  9,  1864,  after  a  rigid  examination,  he  received  a  com 
mission  as  first  lieutenant  United  States  Volunteers,  signed 
by  President  Lincoln,  and  resigned  his  commission  in 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regiment.  He  organized  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Ninth  Company  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps,  for  duty  at  Finley  Hospital,  and  soon 
after  reported  to  Col.  H.  G.  Thomas  at  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Here  he  remained  for  eighteen  months,  at  Leytle 
Barracks,  receiving  a  commission  as  captain  for  meri 
torious  service  March  13,  1865.  The  onerous  and  responsi 
ble  duties  of  commander  of  this  post  were  met  with  honesty 
and  efficiency  until  June  30,  1866,  when  he  was  discharged 
from  service.  Capt.  Warner  is  now  a  merchant  at  Lynn, 
Mass. 

September  12th,  by  the  kindness  of  Col.  Lee,  the  writer 
accompanied  him  on  the  "Ella  May,"  up  the  Neuse,  upon 
a  flag  of  truce.  At  Street's  Landing,  nine  miles  above  the 
city,  we  met  Major  Whitford  on  his  way  to  New  Berne  to 
give  notice  of  a  party  of  women  and  children  at  his  camp, 
desiring  to  enter  our  lines.  In  consideration  of  the  delicate 
health  of  a  Miss  Richardson  whom  we  were  conveying  to 
their  lines,  we  were  permitted  to  ascend  to  Clarkson's  Land 
ing,  near  Whitford's  camp.  The  major,  with  a  captain  and  a 
lieutenant,  were  taken  aboard  the  "  Ella  May,"  and  whiled 
away  the  time  with  jests  over  the  encounters  which  they  had 
had  with  our  regiment.  Major  Whitford  was  dressed  in  a 
neat  suit  of  gray,  with  a  gilt  star  upon  his  collar  and  em 
broidered  knots  upon  his  arms  indicating  his  rank.  Of 
the  battle  of  New  Berne,  Major  Whitford  remarked, 

"  Give  the  devil  his  due  ;  it  was  your Yankee  rifles  that 

took  that  place  ;  you  got  the  range  complete,  and  it  was  sure 
death  to  rise  above  the  works.  You  were  thoroughly 

whipped,  but  were fools  enough  not  to  know  it,  and 

turned  around  and  licked  us ! "  During  the  transaction 
of  official  business,  the  writer  conversed  with  the  lieu- 


FLAG  OF  TRUCE VETERAN  GUARD.         215 

tenant  and  found  him  an  under-graduate  of  Yale  College. 
He  severely  criticised  the  government  for  arming  the 
slaves,  asserting  that  it  was  an  evidence  of  our  extremity, 
and  that  it  would  unite  the  South  as  never  before.  He 
said  if  the  war  should  be  left  to  Massachusetts  and  South 
Carolina  to  settle,  —  or  better  still  to  Jefferson  Davis  and 
"  Abe  Lincoln," —  it  would  be  a  just  retribution.  (Davis  was 
considered  by  them  a  dead  shot. ) 

The  rank  and  file  at  Street's  Ferry  were  armed  with 
various  kinds  of  fire-arms,  and  clothed  with  every  style  of 
garments.  They  were  ignorant  in  the  extreme,  morose  and 
revengeful  in  appearance,  evidently  fair  exponents  of  the 
poor  whites  and  their  squalid  poverty.  The  only  thing  of 
interest  to  them  was  suggested  by  their  remark,  "  You  uns 
wear  right  peart  clothes."  On  the  arrival  of  the  women  and 
children,  one  woman,  formerly  of  Pennsylvania,  as  she 
came  onboard,  looking  up,  pathetically  exclaimed,  "God 
bless  that  dear  old  flag  !  Oh,  how  beautiful  it  looks  ! " 
Altogether,  the  visit  to  Dixie  was  pleasant  and  enjoyable, 
developing  a  friendly  intercourse,  and  drawing  from  the 
lieutenant  the  honest  declaration,  "If  there  could  be  more 
of  such  friendly  converse  it  would  hasten  the  close  of  the 
war." 

The  draft  was  now  in  full  operation,  and  the  risk  of 
desertion  attending  the  transportation  of  conscripts  and 
bounty-men  to  the  field  so  great,  an  order  was  issued  detail 
ing  certain  numbers  from  the  veteran  regiments  to  guard 
them  to  "the  front."  The  Twenty-Seventh  furnished  ten 
men  under  Capt.  J.  W.  Trafton  and  Lieut.  Pliny  Wood,  for 
this  service.  They  rendezvoused  at  New  York  or  Boston,  at 
various  times,  delivering  detachments  of  men  for  the  armies 
in  the  East  and  West.  In  the  spring  of  18f>4,  upon  their  own 
request,  Lieut.  Wood  and  most  of  the  men  returned  to  the 
regiment.  Capt.  Trafton  remained  at  Boston  Harbor  till 
the  spring  of  1865. 


216  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Thirty  years  previous,  James  Whitby  had  taken  Emeline, 
a  neighboring  slave,  as  wife,  and  fifteen  children  had  been 
born  to  them,  eight  of  whom  had  been  sold,  enriching  his 
master  by  six  thousand  dollars.  "Jim"  knew,  however, 
that  by  the  courts  of  his  State  it  had  been  declared  "  there 
could  be  no  legal  marriage  between  slaves,"  and  now  that  he 
was  free,  requested  to  be  "jined  by  de  book,  cordin  to 
de  law  of  liberty."  A  son  was  also  to  be  married,  hence  they 
decided  to  engage  the  Episcopal  Church,  "an  be  jined 
like  white  folks."  At  the  appointed  time  the  church, 
brilliantly  lighted  with  gas,  was  filled  to  its  capacity, 
the  double  train  crowding  the  chancel  to  repletion. 
"Jim"  tried  by  vigorous  pulls  to  cultivate  a  closer 
relation  between  his  pants  and  shoes,  for  the  pants  were 
considerably  shorter  than  warranted  by  fashion ;  and 
Emeline,  in  ordinary  dress,  by  a  free  use  of  saliva  was 
endeavoring  to  smooth  her  curly  locks.  The  young  affiant 
was  in  perfect  bridal  costume,  with  orange  blossoms,  veil, 
train,  and  page  ;  her  deep  ebony  features,  broad  smile,  and 
full  white  set  of  teeth,  presenting  a  strong  contrast  with  the 
motley  surroundings.  Chaplain  Rouse  officiated,  and  to  the 
question  "  You  promise  to  take  Emeline  as  your  lawful  and 
wedded  wife?"  Jim  emphatically  replied,  "  Yes,  Massa ;  I'll 
do  dat  for  shu  !  "  To  the  suggestion  to  Emeline  that  she 
would  love,  honor  and  obey,  she  replied,  "  I'll  try,  Massa." 
This  Avas  a  little  too  much  for  Jim's  ardent  affection,  and 
he  heartily  expostulated  with  her,  declaring,  "  We's  want 
dis  ting  right  dis  time,  for  shu  !  "  so  Emeline  consented  to  the 
full  text. 

The  younger  couple  were  effusive,  till  stunned  by  the 
superfluous  challenge  of  the  marriage  service,  allowing  any 
one  to  question  their  right  to  each  other.  No  objection 
being  raised,  Judy  dropped  her  head  in  coyish  delight,  while 
the  groom  rolled  his  eyes  in  supreme  felicity.  With  much 
stumbling  and  instruction  the  services  were  concluded,  and 


A    NEGRO   WEDDING.  217 

two  as  happy  couples  left  the  altar  as  were  ever  "joined 
by  do  book."  A  most  elaborate  reception  was  held  at  the 
old  folks'  house,  where  we  first  heard  the  thrilling  negro 
melody  :  — 

"  Nicodemus  the  slave  was  of  African  birth, 

He  was  bought  for  a  bagful  of  gold  ; 
He  was  counted  as  part  of  the  salt  of  the  earth, 

But  he  died  years  ago,  very  old. 
'Twus  his  last  request,  so  we  laid  him  away 

In  the  trunk  of  a  hollow  tree, 
Wake  me  up,  was  his  charge,  at  the  first  break  of  day  ; 

Wake  me  up  for  the  great  Jubilee. 

Chorus.  There's  a  good  time  coming,  it's  almost  here, 

'Twas  long,  long,  on  the  way. 
Now  run  tell  Elijah  to  hurry  up  Pomp, 
To  meet  us  at  the  gum-tree  down  by  the  swamp, 
To  wake  Nicodemus  to-day." 

If  Nicodemus  would  not  wake  under  such  fervency  as 
moved  the  crowded  cabin  at  that  midnight  hour,  melody  and 
volume  will  do  little  to  accomplish  it.  Emancipation  was  to 
them  a  great  jubilee,  and  in  the  realization  of  long-deferred 
hope,  every  power  of  body  and  mind  was  thrown  into  this 
mi'lody  which  expressed  their  faith  in  God's  deliverance. 


218  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

GEN'L   FOSTER   CALLS   FOR   HIS    OLD   BRIGADE. 

OCTOBER  4th,  after  four  months  of  provost  duty  in  the 
city  of  New  Berne,  our  regiment  was  relieved  by  the 
Seventeenth  Mass.,  and  went  into  camp  upon  the  south  of 
the  Trent  River,  near  Fort  Gusto n.  This  was  in  preparation 
for  a  more  important  movement.  Gen'l  Foster's  order  on 
leaving  New  Berne,  indicated  he  had  farther  use  for  his 
original  brigade,  and  a  natural  pride  and  confidence  in  them 
led  him  to  desire  their  presence  in  his  immediate  vicinity. 
October  10th,  he  issued  a  special  order  transferring  them 
to  Virginia,  and  the  13th,  inst.  it  was  promulgated  through 
Maj.  Gen'l  Peck. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  AND  DISTRICT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA, 

NEW  BEIINE,  N.  C.,  Oct.  13,  1863. 
SPECIAL  ORDERS,  No.  59. 

The  following-named  regiments  and  batteries  will  at  once  proceed 
to  Elizabeth  City  without  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  to  which 
point  the  quartermaster's  department  will  furnish  transportation. 
From  Elizabeth  City  the}'  will  march  to  Norfolk,  and  upon  their 
arrival,  be  reported  to  Maj.  Gen'l  Foster,  at  Fortress  Monroe. 
The  Ninth  New  Jersey,  Twenty-Third,  Twenty-Fifth  and  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Volunteer  Infantry  Kegiments,  Belger's  Battery  F. 


Camp  and  garrison  equipage  will  follow  by  transports 

By  command  of 

MAJ.  GEN'L  PECK. 
BENJ.  B.  FOSTER,    Asst.  Adjt.  Gen'L 

HEADQUARTERS  FORCES  AND  DEFENCES  OF  NEW  BERNE, 

NEW  BERNE,  N.  C.,  Oct.  13,  1863. 
(Official.) 
J.  A.  JUDSON,  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen'L 


PROVOST  DUTY  AT  NORFOLK.  219 

This  order  was  received  with  evident  satisfaction  by  all 
these  organizations,  from  their  unbounded  confidence  and 
enthusiasm  in  Gen'l  Foster.  Until  this  time  most  of  the 
permanent  force  in  North  Carolina  had  been  those  engaged 
in  its  capture,  but  by  this  order  only  the  Fifth  Rhode  Island 
Regiment  remained  of  the  original  force.  Other  troops  were 
sent  to  the  State  to  replace  our  brigade.  Owing  to  diffi 
culty  in  obtaining  transportation  through  the  sound,  the 
order  was  changed  so  that  the  Twenty- Seventh  Mass,  em 
barked  upon  the  steamer  "  John  Rice,"  at  Beaufort,  N.  C., 
October  17th.  It  arrived  at  Newport  News  Sunday,  the 
18th,  at  six  P.M.,  and  bivouacked  on  the  banks  of  the 
James  River  for  the  night.  The  rest  of  the  brigade  followed 
at  intervals,  the  last  of  it  (Twenty-Fifth  Mass.)  arriving  Oc 
tober  29th.  "  A"  tents,  well  banked,  and  sea-weed  as  a  sub 
stitute  for  straw,  enabled  us  to  protect  ourselves  from  the 
chilly  winds  and  night  air.  Battalion  and  skirmish  drills  — 
by  bugle  — with  inspection  and  reviews,  comprised  our  daily 
duty. 

October  28th,  Maj.  Gen'l  B.  F.  Butler  superseded  Maj. 
Gen'l  J.  G.  Foster,  in  command  of  the  Department  of  Vir 
ginia  and  North  Carolina,  the  latter  being  ordered  to  relieve 
Maj.  Gen'l  A.  E.  Burnside,  in  command  of  the  Department 
of  the  Ohio.  By  this  transfer  we  bade  a  final  adieu  to  our 
gallant  commander,  but  followed  him  with  increasing  pride 
in  his  hasty  march  through  Cumberland  Gap  in  relief  of 
Gen'l  Burnside's  beleaguered  force  at  Knoxville,  and  when 
relieved  by  Gen'l  SchonYld,  in  his  vigorous  operations  in  the 
Department  of  the  South. 

November  10th,  by  order  of  Maj.  Gen'l  Butler,  the  Twen 
ty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  reported  at  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth 
for  provost  duty,  relieving  the  Twenty-First  Conn.  Regt., 
seven  companies  being  stationed  at  the  former  and  three  at 
the  latter  place.  These  cities  were  in  bad  repute  from  their 
bitter  disloyalty  and  numerous  places  of  low  resort.  To 


220          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

control  these  evils,  companies  were  quartered  in  convenient 
parts  of  the  cities,  and  a  daily  detail  of  ten  men  made  as  a 
special  patrol,  beside  the  guards  necessary  for  the  protec 
tion  of  public  and  private  property.  A  sharp  watch  was 
established  over  suspicious  persons  and  resorts,  while  treas 
ury  and  provost  regulations  controlling  trade  were  carefully 
enforced.  On  account  of  the  ease  of  access,  and  the  accom 
modations  afforded  at  Norfolk,  many  of  the  officers  induced 
their  wives  to  enjoy  the  winter  with  them,  but  their  society 
was  shunned  by  the  elite  of  the  place.  This,  however,  was 
a  little  matter,  as  the  number  of  Northern  ladies  present, 
formed  a  large  circle  of  itself.  Prominent  citizens  of  the 
North  visited  the  place  in  the  interest  of  their  local  regi 
ments,  among  whom  was  C.  M.  Lee,  Esq.,  brother  of  Col. 
Lee,  and  O.  W.  Wilcox,  Esq.,  father  of  Capt.  Wilcox, 
both  of  Springfield,  Mass.  The  latter  came  at  the  request 
of  his*  city  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  the  feelings  of  the 
regiment  as  to  re-enlisting. 

By  General  Order  359  from  the  War  Department,  condi 
tions  were  prescribed,  under  which  troops  enlisted  under 
certain  calls  might  re-enlist.  Large  bounties,  a  thirty  days' 
furlough,  and  a  remitting  of  the  remainder  of  the  original 
enlistment,  were  the  inducements  offered.  Under  this  order 
Capt.  H.  C.  Dwight  of  Company  A,  was  appointed  recruit 
ing  officer  for  the  regiment,  and  by  March  1,  1864,  three 
hundred  and  forty-three  of  our  comrades  had  re-enlisted. 
The  appointment  of  Capt.  Dwight  for  this  important  work 
was  a  recognition,  not  only  of  his  ability,  but  his  high 
standing  with  the  rank  and  file.  He  was  regarded  by  them 
as  a  man  of  unusual  probity  and  honor,  and  his  remarkable 
success  in  re-enlisting  was  due  to  this  confidence.  He  de 
clined  to  sanction  the  petty  threats,  deceits  and  compulsions 
of  which  serious  complaints  were  made  in  other  regiments, 
depending  upon  the  patriotism  and  conviction  of  each  as  to 
his  duty.  The  re-enlisted  men  and  recruits  obtained  at  this 


1863.  221 

time  were  sufficient  to  continue  the  organization  as  a  "  Vet 
eran  Regiment,"  at  the  close  of  its  original  term. 

The  year  of  1863  had  been  far  from  satisfactory.  The  vic 
tories  of  Yicksburg,  Port  Hudson,  Missionary  Ridge  and 
Knoxville  had  been  oifset  by  the  mortifying  raids  of  Lee 
into  Pennsylvania,  Morgan  into  Ohio,  Quantrell  into  Kansas, 
and  the  murderous  riot  in  New  York,  as  well  as  the  drawn 
battles  of  Chancellorsville  and  Bristow  Station  in  the  East, 
and  Chattanooga  in  the  West.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
with  all  its  terrible  sacrifices,  remained  before  its  original 
camps,  without  an  acknowledged  leader.  The  only  material 
advance  for  the  year  was  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi 
River.  The  desperate  character  of  the  struggle  had  forced 
drafting  to  supersede  volunteering  as  a  means  of  recruiting 
the  army.  Wise  counsel  prevailed  in  filling  the  ranks  of  de 
pleted  regiments  at  the  front  rather  than  forming  new  organ 
izations,  thus  economizing  the  resources  of  the  government, 
and  rendering  the  army  more  effective  in  the  field.  Presi 
dent  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation  had  crystallized 
the  negroes  into  an  offensive  force  in  the  field,  and  an  active 
ally  within  rebel  lines,  furnishing  reliable  information  of  the 
enemy's  forces  and  movements,  or  aiding  our  unfortunate 
prisoners  in  attempts  at  escape.  The  "  Confiscation  Act " 
had  weakened  the  hands  of  traitors  by  an  effective  embargo 
against  secret  support  from  the  North.  The  country  had 
gained  a  more  thorough  appreciation  of  the  struggle,  and  by 
these  two  acts  had  severely  crippled  the  enemy's  resources 
and  power.  On  every  hand  evidences  accumulated,  that  the 
conflict  would  be  renewed  with  double  energy  after  the  en 
forced  truce  of  winter.  Unusual  activity  had  been  mani 
fested  in  recruiting  during  the  fall,  and  early  winter  found 
many  of  the  regiments  filled,  with  winter  before  them  in 
which  to  discipline  and  organize  the  force. 


222  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

VETERANS    AT    HOME. 

JANUARY  15,  1864,  Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew,  with  two 
hundred  and  twenty  re-enlisted  men,  left  Norfolk  on  a  thirty 
days'  furlough.  They  were  enthusiastically  received  at 
Springfield,  Mass.,  the  18th  inst.,  by  a  salute  from  the 
Union. Battery,  and  by  a  large  concourse  of  friends.  After  a 
brief  time  for  friendly  embrace  and  congratulations,  the 
regiment  marched  under  escort  of  the  Armory  Band,  Union 
Battery,  and  city  officials,  through  Main  and  Elm  streets  to 
the  City  Hall.  Every  available  place  was  filled  with  a  surg 
ing,  cheering  crowd ;  and  buildings  Avere  lavishly  decorated 
with  colors  and  welcomes.  Noticeably  among  these  were 
the  "  Springfield  Republican"  with  its  "Welcome,  Twenty- 
Seventh";  Tilly  Haynes,  Esq.'s  "  Welcome  to  the  Twenty- 
Seventh.  We  honor  the  brave,"  followed  by  a  list  of  our 
engagements;  Tinkharn  &  Co.,  Goldthwait  &  Co.,  and  the 
Massasoit  Insurance  Company.  A  bountiful  collation  was 
spread  at  the  City  Hall,  where  we  were  royally  received,  the 
hall  being  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity. 

Mayor  Alexander  then  addressed  us  as  follows  :  — 

Veterans  of  the  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment ! 

One  of  the  pleasantest  duties  which  has  devolved  upon  me  offi 
cially,  is  this  welcoming  3-011  back  to  }'our  city,  your  homes  and 
3'our  friends.  A  little  more  than  two  years  ago  you  left  us,  one 
thousand  in  number,  but  one  in  heart,  to  meet  the  enemies  of  3-0111- 


MAYOR  ALEXANDER'S  ADDRESS.  223 

country,  and  nobly  have  3Tou  redeemed  your  pledge  which  you  gave 
in  3'our  firm  purpose  and  martial  bearing.  We  have  followed  you 
with  our  affection  and  sympathy,  from  your  departure  until  your 
return.  The  captures  of  Roanoke  and  of  New  Berne,  the  victories 
of  Kinston  and  Goldsboro,  and  more  than  all  these,  the  sturdy  and 
unyielding  defence  of  Little  Washington,  which  were  among  the 
achievements  of  your  brave  hearts  and  strong  arms,  have  been  our 
pride  and  our  boast.  The  battles  which  Generals  Burnside  and 
Foster  directed  to  be  inscribed  on  your  banners,  have  been  written 
in  our  history ,  because  you  went  from  us,  and  are  our  brothers  and 
sons.  You  have  fought  man}*  battles,  but  have  met  with  no  de 
feats  ;  the  enemy-  might  always  see  your  faces,  but  never  your 
backs.  You  have  not  lost  an  inch  of  ground  that  you  have  con 
quered,  and  the  rebellious  who  yielded  to  your  arms,  and  with 
whom  you  have  lived,  and  who  learned  what  manner  of  persons  you 
were,  have  been  among  the  first  of  our  enemies  to  show  evidence 
of  returning  allegiance.  Soldiers  can  have  no  superiors  who 
always  win  (and  with  equal  ease)  the  victories  of  war  and  the 
victories  of  peace. 

Sorrowfully,  indeed,  we  miss  some  of  your  number.  The  cruel 
fates  of  war  have  been  allotted  them,  but  the}-  died  as  Jbrave  sol 
diers  should  die,  fighting  in  a  good  cause,  and  in  the  "  fierce  joy  " 
of  battle.  Theirs  is  the  reward  of  good  men  who  have  done  their 
whole  duty,  and  they-  will  live  always  in  the  affectionate  remem 
brance  of  those  who  knew  and  loved  them  in  life,  and  in  the  his 
tory  of  their  country-  which  they-  died  to  save.  We  give  to  you 
a  heartier  welcome,  because  you  have  returned  with  an  undaunted 
courage  and  an  unyielding  purpose.  You  have  declared  3-0111' 
intention  of  completing  the  work  you  have  so  gallantly  com 
menced. 

Once  more  you  have  pledged  your  faith  and  3-0111*  lives  to  the 
country,  until  the  last  foe  is  vanquished,  and  the  last  rebel  flag 
is  lowered  in  submission.  We  receive  this  pledge  as  an  assurance 
of  victory  and —  before  the  snows  of  another  winter  shall  cover  our 
fields  —  the  return  of  peace  and  happiness,  of  loyalty  and  freedom 
throughout  our  land.  We  welcome  3Tou  then  again,  brave  soldiers 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  who  have  renewed  your  first  vow  to  the 
country- — "  three  years  or  for  the  war." 


224          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Just  how  Col.  Bartholomew  was  to  dispose  of  his  obliga 
tion  in  reply,  no  one  could  guess,  as  he  had  never  indulged 
in  oratory  before  his  men,  and  hence  they  were  wild  with 
delight  over  his  graceful  reply. 

Mr.  Mayor: 

I  thank  3-011,  and  through  }'ou  the  citizens  of  Springfield,  for  the 
friendly  reception  which  has  welcomed  our  return.  In  the  severe 
trials  of  our  campaigns,  next  to  the  consciousness  of  doing  our 
duty,  we  were  best  sustained  by  the  reflection  that  we  had  the 
sympathy  and  affection  of  our  friends  at  home.  In  the  cordial 
reception  which  we  have  this  day  received  and  which  you  have  pre 
pared  for  us,  we  forget  all  our  past  trials,  and  remember  only  the 
honors  and  awards  which  our  fellow-citizens  and  our  country 
bestow  upon  us.  I  conceal  from  no  one  my  pride  in  the  regiment 
with  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  connected.  Wherever  duty, 
danger  or  patriotism  called  them,  they  have  been  the  first  to  march 
and  the  last  to  leave.  Massachusetts  has  sent  forth  no  braver 
body  of  men,  and  there  are  no  braver  men  than  those  whom  Mas 
sachusetts  sends. 

Mr.  Mayor,  we  have  come  home  for  a  few  days  only.  We  are 
going  on  with  the  work  we  have  commenced,  and  when  we  come 
back  again,  we  shall  bring  in  our  right  hand  victory  and  peace. 
We  can  boast  of  one  thing  which  no  other  regiment  in  the  service 
can :  for  a  year  and  a  half  that  we  have  been  on  picket  duty,  we 
have  not  lost  a  man  killed,  wounded  or  taken  prisoner  ;  and  it  has 
been  a  well-known  fact,  that  when  there  was  a  chance  for  a  fight, 
the  ranks  were  full  to  the  last  man.  Our  little  colonel  —  unwill 
ingly  absent  —  wishes  to  be  remembered  to  his  Springfield  friends. 
You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  he  is  in  command  of  his  old  regiment 
again,  beloved  by  all,  and,  though  ice  say  it,  deserving  promotion. 

Mayor  Alexander  again  called  for  "three  cheers  for  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,"  and  Col.  Bartholomew  "  for  the 
citizens  of  Springfield"  and  "  our  gallant  colonel,"  and  then 
gave  the  command  "  Ready,  Twenty-Seventh  !  —  Charge  !" 
and  the  refreshments  loading  the  tables  disappeared  as 


APPEARANCE    OF   NORFOLK A    CENSUS.  225 

promptly  as  the  enemy  on  a  Core  Creek  raid.  After  dinner 
the  men  were  dismissed  until  February  14th,  and  after  a 
month's  furlough,  re-arrived  at  Norfolk,  February  19th,  1864. 
Under  ante  bellum  regime,  everything  at  Norfolk  seemed 
to  have  gone  to  wreck  and  ruin.  Wharves,  streets,  vehicles, 
and  people  looked  as  though  renovation  or  repairs  had  never 
been  dreamed  of.  The  whites  had  a  pinched,  scrimped, 
hungry  look,  and  among  the  few  remaining,  no  young  men 
were  to  be  found,  their  work  being  performed  by  girls,  even 
to  the  driving  of  mule  carts  about  the  city.  The  ubiquitous 
negro  was  "  omniprevalent,  omnifarious,"  and  the  main  reli 
ance  for  labor.  After  enlistment  nothing  suited  them  better 
than  a  raid  into  the  surrounding  country,  their  return  being 
marked  by  processions  surpassing  the  wildest  dreams  of 
scarecrows  or  "  hobgoblins."  This  boasted  land  of  "  hom 
iny  and  bacon  "did  not  furnish  a  "  rooter  "  whose  appear 
ance  would  not  suggest  the  last  stages  of  consumption.  It 
redeemed  itself  on  oysters,  however,  which  were  as  far 
superior  to  Norwalks  as  the  latter  excel  the  ordinary 
"plants." 

"  Oysters,  natives,  fine  and  fat ; 

Oysters  roasted!  think  of  that! 

Oysters  cooked  in  every  way  ; 

Oysters  plenty  every  day.11 

Such  was  the  poetic  effusion  of  one  who  for  the  first  time 
revelled  in  their  lusciousness. 

During  the  winter  a  detail  from  the  regiment  was  made 

o  c^ 

for  a  census  of  the  colored  population  of  that  vicinity. 
Negro  families  were  huddled  together  in  squalid  poverty, 
without  regard  to  convenience,  comfort  or  decency,  and 
were  about  as  easy  to  enumerate  as  a  lively  ant-heap.  The 
children  were  so  numerous,  that  many  were  without  names, 
and  answered  to  the  suggestive  nicknames,  Nigger-head, 
Black-brat,  Woolly-pate,  and  the  like.  No  amount  of  per 
suasion  could  induce  the  parents  to  attempt  to  furnish  names, 


226  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

but  they  warmly  urged  our  census  takers  to  aid  them  out  of 
the  difficulty.  Whether  as  a  desperate  resort,  or  as  a  result 
of  wilful  maliciousness  of  those  engaged  in  the  work,  we 
will  not  say,  but  as  a  fact,  all  the  great  men  of  the  nation 
were  furnished  with  namesakes,  not  omitting  many  officers 
and  men  of  our  own  and  other  regiments.  This  use  of 
power  resulted  in  some  annoyance  and  considerable  amuse 
ment,  over  which  its  perpetrators  gloated  with  intense  satis 
faction.  It  was  not  unusual,  while  on  our  daily  rounds  of 
the  city,  to  be  suddenly  stopped  by  a  stentorian  voice  from 
attic  or  cellar,  calling  our  names,  saying,  "  Come  he-ar  dis 
minnit,  or  I'll  broke  yer  hed !  "  This  was  followed  by  a 
sudden  scattering  of  black  cherubs  from  the  gutters,  with 
hands  full  of  cigar-stubs  and  other  gutter  rubbish. 

After  entering  the  city,  Chief  Musician  L.  C.  Skinner  of 
Amherst,  organized  and  uniformed  a  drum  corps  of  twenty 
members,  and  by  persistent  practice  brought  them  to  unusual 
perfection.  This  corps  was  a  source  of  pardonable  pride  to 
the  regiment,  and  of  great  enjoyment  to  the  citizens.  When 
its  martial  strains  filled  the  air  in  parading  the  streets,  busi 
ness  cares  and  treasonable  reserve  gave  place  to  apprecia 
tion  and  delight.  No  band  in  the  department  enjoyed  the 
high  estimation  of  this  "drum  corps,"  the  credit  of  which 
is  due  to  Comrade  Skinner.  Music  was  to  him  an  inspira- 
li  >n,  and  most  of  his  exercises  were  original  with  himself. 
Comrade  Skinner  died  at  Plainville,  Conn.,  Feb.  14,  18b7. 

Much  labor  was  bestowed  in  establishing  religious  and 
educational  facilities.  A  portion  of  the  time  the  religious 
services  of  the  regiment  were  held  in  the  theatre  building. 
Later,  Chaplain  Wood  worth,  by  choice  of  the  church,  and 
the  appointment  of  Gen'l  Butler,  assumed  charge  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  its  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Armstrong, 
having  been  sentenced  to  hard  labor  at  Fort  Hatteras,  N.  C., 
for  treasonable  utterances.  Under  Rev.  W.  L.  Coan, 
schools  for  freedmen  were  established,  including  eight  graded 


COLORED  SCHOOLS  —  RETURN  OF  COL.  LEE.     227 

and  four  primary  departments.  These  were  attended  by  two 
thousand  scholars,  while  the  evening  schools  were  crowded 
by  motley  throngs  beyond  possible  accommodation.  Lan 
guage  fails  to  describe  the  longings  of  these  emancipated 
ones  for  a  taste  of  knowledge.  An  old  man  said  to  the 
writer,  "  Ef  dis  ole  man  can  only  read  from  dis  blessed 
book  for  hisself,  of  de  lab  ob  Jesus,  it's  nougli  for  me  !  "  A 
primer  and  Testament  constituted  the  course  of  study,  and 
for  the  most  part  best  satisfied  their  wants.  March,  1864, 
Mr.  Coan  wrote:  "For  months  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Kegt.  has  been  with  us  ;  they  have  been  our  defenders,  have 
met  us  in  our  praying  circle,  and  we  have  been  strengthened 
by  their  prayers  and  exhortations.  They  have  devoted 
much  time  to  the  instruction  of  the  poor  freedmen,  and  our 
night  and  Sabbath  schools  have  been  greatly  aided  by  them. 
We  deeply  regret  the  necessity  of  parting  with  them." 

Upon  the  accession  of  Gen'l  Butler  to  the  command  of 
this  department,  Col.  II.  C.  Lee  was  relieved  as  provost 
marshal  general  by  the  discontinuance  of  the  office,  and 
rejoined  the  regiment  at  Norfolk.  During  January,  Febru 
ary  and  March,  he  was  on  special  service  with  Porter  Sher 
man,  Esq.,  of  Norfolk,  and  George  E.  Carney,  Esq.,  of 
Lowell,  Mass.,  as  "  bank  commissioners,"  investigating 
charges  made  by  colored  persons,  who  claimed  they  had 
funds  in  the  bank  of  Norfolk,  demands  for  wrhich  had  been 
dishonored.  Later,  Col.  Lee  sat  as  president  of  a  court- 
martial,  before  which  six  charges  and  forty-two  specifications 
were  brought  against  Col.  Donahue  of  the  Tenth  New  Hamp 
shire  Regiment,  by  his  lieutenant-colonel,  on  all  of  which 
the  accused  was  acquitted. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was  under  the  command  01 
Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew,  and  by  faithful  service,  won  from 
Col.  Whelden,  provost  marshal  of  Norfolk,  the  declaration 
"The  Twenty-Seventh  was  the  best  regiment  for  provost 
duty  I  ever  knew,  seventeen  men  and  a  sergeant  keeping  a 


228  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

population  of  forty  thousand  as  quiet  as  any  New  England 
city."  The  evening  of  March  4th,  the  enemy  was  reported 
advancing  in  force  from  Suffolk.  At  eleven  P.M.  the  regi 
ment  advanced  three  miles  into  the  country,  bivouacking  for 
the  night  and  following  day  in  a  driving  storm.  At  eight 
r.M.  the  evening  of  the  5th,  we  advanced  a  little  beyond 
Magnolia  Salt  Sulphur  Springs,  remaining  there  until  the 
morning  of  the  6th,  but  finding  no  enemy,  returned,  reach 
ing  Norfolk  the  evening  of  the  7th. 

Norfolk  was  thoroughly  northernized  by  the  introduction 
of  large  numbers  of  merchants  from  New  York,  Boston, 
Philadelphia,  New  Haven  and  Springfield ;  in  fact  they 
monopolized  its  entire  business.  The  most  questionable 
enterprise  was  the  establishment  of  the  "Norfolk  Regime" 
under  military  auspices.  It  could  hardly  claim  to  be  a  news 
paper,  its  contents  being  mainly  the  publication  of  courts- 
martial,  with  charges,  specifications  and  findings,  verbatim  et 
literatim.  It  was  a  frequent  inquiry,  under  what  stress  of 
service  this  outlay  was  warranted,  or  from  what  appropria 
tion  paid? 

March  21st  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  was  relieved  from 
provost  duty  by  the  Fourth  Rhode  Island  Regiment,  but  on 
account  of  a  protest  to  Gen'l  Butler  from  military  authorities 
and  the  board  of  trade,  the  order  was  rescinded.  This  did 
not  reach  us,  however,  until  the  22d,  at  which  time  we  were 
well  on  the  way  to  "  Julian's  Creek."  The  regiment  were 
averse  to  returning,  and  succeeded  in  holding  good  the  orig 
inal  order  so  far  as  to  secure  the  relief  of  most  of  the  regi 
ment  ;  Company  F,  and  fifty  men  from  other  companies, 
were,  however,  returned  to  the  city  as  a  special  guard.  Six 
inches  of  snow  had  fallen  and  the  entire  distance  to  Julian's 
Creek,  was  marched  in  a  driving  storm,  which  increased  to 
almost  a  hurricane  before  we  reached  our  destination.  For 
tunately  for  us  —  as  we  could  neither  bivouac  nor  pitch  tents 
at  such  a  time — the  Tenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment  was 


JULIAN'S  CREEK  —  RECRUITS.  229 

absent  from  camp,  and,  true  to  the  generous  impulses  of  the 
Old  Granite  State,  we  received  from  those  remaining  a 
cordial  welcome  for  the  night.  The  morning  of  the  23d, 
a  foot  of  snow  lay  upon  the  ground,  with  drifts  of  consider 
able  depth.  Before  night  closed  the  Twenty-Seventh  had 
cleared  the  snow,  pitched  and  stockaded  their  tents  on  an 
adjoining  field,  and  were  quietly  ensconced  around  their 
cheerful  fires. 

During  the  months  of  January,  February  and  March,  two 
hundred  and  thirteen  recruits  joined  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment,  bringing  its  aggregate  strength  to  nine  hundred 
and  thirty-three  men,  of  which  less  than  five  per  cent,  were 
"  under  surgeon's  care."  Of  those  who  joined  us  during 
these  months  it  is  but  just  to  say,  that  while  technically 
"  recruits,"  their  acts  soon  proved  any  distinction  between 
them  and  veterans  to  be  invidious.  If  they  emulated  the 
courage,  invincibility  and  enthusiasm  of  more  experienced 
comrades,  they  succeeded  because  of  natural  affinity.  The 
meritorious  record  of  these  men  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war,  \varrants  us  in  dismissing,  once  for  all,  the  term  "re 
cruit."  While  the  service  of  the  regiment  had  been  hitherto 
unremittent  and  exacting,  we  were  about  to  enter  upon  a 
series  of  conflicts  with  which  former  contests  bore  little  com 
parison.  Such  tenacity,  fierceness  and  carnage  were  new  ex 
periences,  even  to  our  veterans,  for  upon  former  fields,  after  a 
few  hours'  strife,  we  charged  the  enemy's  position  with  uni 
form  success.  No  defeat  had  tarnished  our  record,  and  at 
no  time  had  we  been  driven  from  the  field,  or  forced  to  turn 
our  backs  to  the  enemy.  We  were  now  to  meet  crushing 
defeat  from  the  errors  of  others,  many  were  to  languish  and 
die  in  loathsome  prisons,  yet  in  these  experiences  the  new 
men  were  constant  in  service,  vigilant  in  danger,  courageous 
on  the  field,  and  patient  in  suffering  even  unto  death. 

While  stationed  at  Julian's  Creek,  Heckman's  Red  Star 
Brigade  was  organized,  consisting  of  the  Twenty-Third, 


230  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Twenty-Fifth,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  and  Ninth  New  Jer 
sey  Volunteer  Regiments,  all  of  which  had  been  closely  con 
nected  with  us  in  service  since  the  fall  of  1861.  It  is  not 
too  much  to  say  of  these  regiments,  again  united  with  us, 
that  they  were  the  peers  of  any  troops  in  the  field,  and  so 
far  as  courage  and  fortitude  would  sustain,  were  thoroughly 
reliable.  Brig.  Gen'l  C.  A.  Heckman,  the  commanding  gen 
eral,  had  earned  his  promotion  from  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Ninth  New  Jersey,  in  active  service  in  North  Carolina,  and 
was  known  by  us  to  be  a  fearless  and  valiant  commander. 
April  12th  the  Twenty-Seventh  made  a  reconnoissance  in 
force  to  the  Blackwater  River,  but  returned  without  discov 
ering  any  traces  of  the  enemy. 

April    17th   Adjutant  E.  D.   Lee,   a  genial   and  popular 
officer,  died,  at  thirty  years  of  age. 

EDWARD  D.  LEE, 

Eldest  son  of  Hon.  Artemas  Lee  of  Templeton,  Mass.,  was 
commissioned  as  second  lieutenant  March  15,  18(52.  He 
joined  the  regiment  May  1st,  and  was  promoted  first  lieuten 
ant  Nov.  16,  1862.  He  served  most  of  his  time  with  Com 
pany  I,  Capt.  Wilcox,  or  as  adjutant  of  his  regiment,  but 
at  his  death  he  was  acting  assistant  adjutant-general  on  the 
staff'  of  Col.  H.  C.  Lee.  The  latter  wrote  of  him  :  "As  an 
assistant  adjutant-general  I  never  expect  to  replace  him. 
He  was,  in  office,  prompt,  systematic,  untiring,  and  on  the 
field,  cool,  brave  and  determined.  His  loss  creates  a  gap 
which  will  be  felt  and  noticed."  Maj.  William  A.  Walker 
wrote  :  "In  the  performance  of  his  duties  he  was  prompt 
and  efficient,  devoting  his  time  and  abilities  to  the  interests 
of  the  regiment,  and  adding  no  small  share  to  the  reputa 
tion  it  enjoyed  for  order  and  discipline."  He  had  been 
acting  in  his  last  position  but  a  brief  time,  but  had  been  fre 
quently  complimented  by  the  department  inspector  for  his 
order  and  accuracy.  He  was  a  thorough  student  of  his 


EDWARD    D.    LEE.  231 

position,  excelled  by  few  in  his  knowledge  of  tactics  and 
military  discipline.  In  the  midst  of  preparations  for  the 
summer's  conflict,  he  was  prostrated  by  an  inflammation  of 
the  lungs,  and  removed  to  Balfour  Hospital,  Portsmouth, 
Va.,  where  he  died  April  17,  1864.  The  body  was  brought 
to  camp  at  Julian's  Creek  for  funeral  services,  when  it  was 
escorted  to  the  steamer  at  Norfolk  by  his  company,  and  for 
warded  to  Lee,  Mass.,  for  burial.  At  Lieut.  Leo's  death,  a 
brother  of  his  was  in  a  precarious  condition  from  wounds 
received  in  battle. 


232  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE  DEPAHTMENT  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA  IN  DANGER. 

THE  history  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  is  so  closely 
interwoven  with  the  Department  of  North  Carolina,  a  record 
of  events  occurring  since  the  departure  of  the  regiment  will 
prove  of  interest.  In  October,  1863,  the  enemy  extended 
the  lines  of  their  department  to  include  the  southern  de 
fences  of  the  James  River  on  the  north,  and  Wilmington  on 
the  south,  with  headquarters  at  Petersburg,  Va.  This  de 
partment  was  placed  under  command  of  Gen'l  George  E. 
Pickett,  whose  vigilance  and  courage  gave  promise  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  of  a  determined  effort  to  rid  North  Caro 
lina  of  its  invaders.  Confidence  in  their  ability  to  accom 
plish  this  was  strengthened  by  their  knowledge  of  the  de 
parture  of  Gen'l  Foster  with  his  veteran  troops,  and  a  mate 
rial  reduction  of  the  Union  army  by  the  withdrawal  of  the 
nine  months'  regiments.  Maj.  Gen'l  John  G.  Peck,  com 
mander  of  the  Union  forces,  was  of  conceded  courage  and 
engineering  skill,  and  had  distinguished  himself  at  Fair  Oaks 
and  Suffolk,  Va.  He  had  not,  however,  the  restless  activity 
required  to  secure  in  advance  a  knowledge  of  the  rebels' 
plans  and  strength  by  expeditions  against,  and  frequent 
reconnoissances  along  the  enemy's  lines.  With  the  small 
force  at  his  command,  such  activity  was  imperatively  needed 
for  safety. 

At  gray  of  dawn  Feb.  17,  1864,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-Second  N.  Y.  Regt.,  Col.  P.  J.  Claassen,  at  Bachelor's 


NEW    BERNE    ATTACKED. 

Creek,  was  attacked  by  Iloke's,  Clingman's,  and  Corse's  bri 
gades  under  command  of  Gen'l  Pickett.  Gen'l  Bearing's 
brigade  moved  on  Fort  Anderson  across  the  Neuse,  while 
Gen'l  Barton,  with  Ransom's  and  Terry's  brigades,  advanced 
through  Pollocksville,  on  the  south  of  the  Trent,  intercepted 
communications  with  Beaufort,  captured  a  company  of  the 
Fifth  Rhode  Island  at  Newport  Barracks,  and  attempted  to 
construct  batteries  along  the  river  below  the  Trent.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  New  York  gallantly  de 
fended  their  position  several  hours,  inflicting  severe  loss 
upon  the  enemy,  including  the  death  of  Col.  H.  M.  Shaw  of 
Roanoke  Island  fame,  until  the  arrival  of  Lieut.  Col.  Fellows 
with  a  detachment  of  the  Seventeenth  Mass.  A  company  of 
the  Second  North  Carolina  Union  Volunteers,  occupying  a 
block-house  at  Beech  Grove,  surrendered  without  contest, 
permitting  the  enemy  to  gain  our  rear.  Col.  Fellows  had 
hardly  reached  supporting  distance  of  Col.  Claassen,  when 
he  found  his  flanks  assailed  by  Hoke's  brigade,  before  which 
he  retired  to  the  fortifications  at  New  Berne  with  a  consider 
able  loss  in  prisoners.  Col.  Claassen's  troops  fell  back  by 
the  railroad,  contesting  the  enemy's  advance  at  every  oppor 
tunity,  reaching  the  intrenchments  at  New  Berne  late  in  the 
afternoon. 

The  night  closed  upon  New  Berne  Avith  Gen'l  Pickett's 
forces  occupying  the  timber  fronting  our  defences  between 
the  Neuse  and  Trent  rivers,  and  Gen'l  Barton  investing  the 
city  on  the  south  of  the  Trent.  Our  defences  encircling  the 
city  were  about  four  miles  in  length,  including  Forts  Totten 
on  the  Trent  road,  Rowan  on  the  railroad,  and  Stevenson 
outlying  on  the  bank  of  the  Neuse,  as  western  defences,  with 
Forts  Gaston  and  Amory  south  of  the  Trent,  and  Fort 
Spinola  outlying  on  the  Neuse,  easterly.  Our  available 
force  did  not  exceed  thirty-five  hundred  men,  and  could 
present  only  a  feeble  resistance  along  this  extensive  line. 
Able-bodied  negroes  were  armed  and  scattered  along  the 


234          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

fortifications.  Lieut.  "W.  C.  Hunt  (of  Company  A,  Twen 
ty-Seventh  Mass.  llegt.J,  assistant  provost  marshal  of  New 
Berne,  rallied  a  full  company  of  sutlers  and  traders,  under 
the  euphonious  title  of  "  Letter  B  (let  her  be)  Company," 
in  whose  evolutions  and  courageous  exhibitions  he  took  un 
bounded  delight.  During  the  evening  rebel  bauds  regaled 
us  with  "Dixie,"  "Lone  Star,"  and  "  Bonnie  Blue  Flag," 
to  which  our  band  responded  from  Fort  Totten  with  national 
airs,  and  "  Oh,  dear,  what  can  the  matter  be?" 

About  midnight  a  volunteer  force  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
marines  from  Richmond,  under  a  Col.  Wood,  moved  down 
the  Neuse  in  "launches,"  intending  to  surprise  and  capture 
our  fleet.  The  gunboat  "Underwriter"  lay  abreast  Fort 
Stevenson,  and  was  closely  approached  under  cover  of  dark 
ness.  The  enemy  disregarded  our  challenge,  when  dis 
covered,  and  before  the  crew  could  be  rallied,  were  boarding 
the  vessel.  A  fierce  hand  to  hand  conflict  ensued,  with  only 
one  possible  result,  until  the  commander  of  Fort  Stevenson, 
comprehending  the  situation,  on  his  own  responsibility 
opened  fire  upon  the  unfortunate  gunboat,  exploding  its  mag 
azine  and  frustrating  the  design  of  the  enemy.  This  act  met 
the  unqualified  approval  of  the  commanding  general.  The 
enemy  were  in  full  possession  of  the  "  Underwriter,"  our 
men  having  been  driven  into  the  water,  so  that  when  the 
explosion  occurred  it  fell  upon  the  foe  with  disastrous  effect. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  at  daylight  the  next  morning, 
Gen'l  Pickett  with  his  entire  army  had  withdrawn.  Whether 
the  field,  covered  by  the  frowning  guns  of  our  forts  in  front, 
and  the  transverse  fire  of  our  navy  from  either  flank  was  too 
much  for  the  sensitive  nerves  of  Gen'l  Pickett,  or  whether 
he  was  disgusted  with  the  failure  of  his  marines,  the  inac 
tivity  of  Barton  and  the  non-appearance  of  Gen'l  Dealing,  \ve 
are  unable  to  say.  We  venture  the  suggestion  that  his  sin 
cere  respect  for  the  first  lost  him  the  prize.  Either  of  his 
divisions  might  have  forced  the  southern  defences  and  cap 
tured  the  place,  although  they  could  not  have  held  it. 


TERRIBLE  REVENGE  —  PLYMOUTH  ATTACKED.     235 

A  terrible  fate  awaited  the  unfortunate  company  of  North 
Carolina  Volunteers  captured  at  Beech  Grove,  many  of 
whom  were  deserters  from  the  rebel  army.  They  were  be 
trayed  by  one  of  their  own  sergeants,  and  being  found  in 
arms,  twenty  were  executed  at  Kinston.  The  orderly  ser 
geant  of  the  company,  who  voluntarily  furnished  the  com 
pany  roll  by  which  evidence  necessary  to  their  conviction  was 
secured,  suffered  a  just  retribution  in  being  executed  with 
them.  The  report  of  their  execution  caused  a  thrill  of  horror 
at  New  Berne,  but  an  investigation  failed  to  establish  criminal 
ity  beyond  the  usages  of  war.  They  were  deserters  from  their 
army,  and  their  terrible  fate  was  justified  by  military  law. 
The  fault  was  with  the  government  in  enlisting  such  troops, 
or  if  enlisted,  allowing  them  in  such  exposed  positions. 
The  natural  tendency  to  revenge,  rendered  it  easy  to  estab 
lish  such  charges  against  "  Buffalo  Yankees,"  as  they  termed 
them. 

Brig.  Gen'l  H.  W.  Wessell,  with  his  brigade,  had  re 
mained  at  Plymouth,  since  relieving  Companies  G  and  H  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  in  May,  1863,  with  little  to  disturb  the 
garrison.  Frequent  rumors  of  an  ironclad  at  Rainbow  Bluff, 
destined  to  assault  the  place,  wrere  received.  His  force  con 
sisted  of  the  Sixteenth  Conn.,  Eighty-Fifth  N.  Y.,  One  Hun 
dred  and  First  and  One  Hundred  and  Third  Penn.  Volunteer 
Regiments;  Companies  "  G,"  Capt.  Ira  B.  Sampson,  and 
"  H,"  Capt.  Joseph  E.  Fiske,  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery  ; 
Twenty-Fourth  N.  Y,  Battery  two  companies  of  the  Third 
N.  Y.  Cavalry,  and  two  companies  of  the  First  North  Caro 
lina  Union  Volunteers  ;  with  the  gunboats  "Miami,"  "  South- 
field,"  "Whitehead"  and  "Bomb-hell."  April  17th  this 
force  —  excepting  detachments  at  Roanoke  Island —  were  all 
present  at  Plymouth.  Sunday  P.M.,  the  17th,  while  the 
troops  were  attending  divine  service,  the  pickets  were  simul 
taneously  attacked  at  War  Neck,  Fort  Grey  and  Lee's  Mills 
roads,  and  early  in  the  evening  a  desperate  assault  was  made 


236  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

by  "  Kemper's  brigade  "  on  Fort  Grey.  This  assault  was 
repulsed  with  great  loss.  An  artillery  duel  ensued  the  18th, 
the  enemy  being  again  repulsed  in  an  attempt  to  break  our 
lines  adjoining  "  Lee's  Mills  road,"  but  about  eleven  p.  M., 
after  three  successive  charges,  Hoke's  brigade  succeeded  in 
carrying  the  Eighty-Fifth  Redoubt,  or  Fort  Wessell,  and 
capturing  its  garrison. 

At  three  A.M.  the  19th,  the  gunboat  "  AVhitehead"  was 
"  on  picket"  at  the  head  of  the  islands,  with  instructions  to 
give  immediate  notice  of  the  approach  of  the  ironclad  ram 
"Albemarle."  In  some  way  the  "  Whitehead  "  allowed  itself 
to  be  surprised  and  cut  off  from  the  direct  channel,  so  that 
the  first  warning  of  our  fleet  was  the  sight  of  the  "Albemarle  " 
bearing  directly  upon  them.  Commander  Flusser  immedi 
ately  lashed  the  "  Miami"  and  "  Southfield  "  together,  and 
stood  by  his  forward  gun  (at  the  time  loaded  with  a  shell), 
and  as  his  mailed  antagonist  closed  upon  him,  drew  the  lan 
yard,  against  the  protest  of  his  crew,  when  a  piece  of  the 
rebounding  shell  struck  him  in  the  side,  inflicting  a  ghastly 
and  fatal  wound. 

Lieut.  Commander  Flusser  entered  the  navy  in  1847,  and 
for  meritorious  and  gallant  service,  received  successive  pro 
motions,  his  commission  as  lieutenant-commander  being 
dated  July  16,  1862.  Being  of  Maryland  birth,  a  scion  of 
the  family  of  Theodore  Bland,  and  nephew  of  Commodore 
Mayo,  U.  S.  N.,  strong  influences  were  used  to  induce  him 
to  desert  his  country  for  the  Confederacy.  Just  after  the 
opening  of  hostilities,  while  attending  his  uncle's  funeral,  he 
heard  some  one  say  that  his  uncle  had  "  lived  long  enough 
to  attest  his  loyalty  to  the  South."  Flusser  indignantly  re 
joined,  "  In  my  opinion  Commodore  Mayo  lived  one  week 
too  long  for  his  own  honor  or  that  of  his  family."  He  was 
as  fearless  as  loyal,  as  dashing  as  determined.  It  is  reported 
of  him  when  bearing  down  upon  the  "  Sea  Bird,"  the  rebel 
Lynch's  flagship,  at  Elizabeth  City,  February  10th,  he  hailed 


LIEUT. -COMMANDER    FLTJSSEK.  237 

the  vessel,  saying,  "Tell  the  commodore  to  get  out  his 
fenders,  I'm  coining  aboard ;"  and  the  next  moment  his 
steamer  struck  the  "  Sea  Bird,"  crushing  it  beneath  the 
waves. 

Among  those  who  pressed  him  to  join  the  South  was  his 
comrade,  Hollins,  afterward  an  officer  in  the  Confederate 
navy.  His  reply,  so  characteristic  of  the  man,  has  been 
made  public  :  — 

DEAR  CAP,  —  T  shall  never  do  it.  What !  be  one  of  the  very  first 
to  fire  on  the  Flag?  Not  I!  I  have  no  appetite  for  argument 
to-night ;  my  heart  is  sick.  Is  it  not  enough  to  drive  an  honest 
man  out  of  his  senses,  to  find  thieves  making  a  great  nation  destroy 
itself?  Where  are  your  wits,  man ?  How  can  this  business  end? 
In  "  peace"  and  slavery?  The  end  ma}T  bring  the  death  of  both 
forever,  and  worse,  inaugurate  an  era  of  blood,  unparalleled.  .  .  . 
Just  look,  then,  at  the  prospect;  blood,  rapine,  desolation,  war, 
Hollins ! 

"  Thou  canst  not  shake  thy  gory  locks  at  me, 
And  say  I  did  it." 

Yours  in  Union, 

C.  W.  FLUSSER. 

Let  this  be  his  monument;  few  men  raise  their  own,  or 
choose  a  nobler  epitaph ;  and,  though  we  buried  him  amid 
the  lowly  in  the  soldiers'  graveyard  at  New  Berne,  and  his 
headstone  now  bears  this  simple  inscription, 

FLUSSER, 

U.  S.  Navy, 

yet  a  grateful  people  will  hold  him  in  memory,  and  teach 
their  children  to  copy  his  example. 

After  the  death  of  Commander  Flusser,  the  uneven  con 
test  continued  but  a  short  time  before  the  steamers  "  South- 
field  "  and  "  Bombshell"  were  sunk,  and  our  navy  retired  to 


238  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  sound.  Reinforced  by  the  "Albemarle,"  the  enemy 
hurled  a  galling  fire  of  grape,  shell  and  canister  from  all 
sides  on  the  devoted  garrison.  Three  successive  demands 
for  surrender  were  met  with  prompt  refusals,  to  the  last  of 
which,  Gen'l  Hoke  retorted,  "  I  will  fill  your  citadel  with 
iron,  and  compel  you  to  surrender,  if  it  take  the  last  man  !" 
At  4.30  A.M  ,  Wednesday,  Apiil  20th,  Pegram's,  Marshal's, 
Blount's,  and  Lee's  batteries  opened  on  the  works  along  Co 
lumbia  road  and  Coneby  Creek,  under  cover  of  which, 
"  Ransom's  brigade"  in  "  double  column  by  division,"  by  a 
desperate  charge,  carried  Coneby  and  Compiler  redoubts, 
and  pressed  into  the  town.  The  enemy's  fire  now  swept 
every  portion  of  our  line,  while  the  contest  was  waged  from 
house  to  house  and  tree  to  tree,  until  at  seven  o'clock,  all 
the  defences  but  Fort  Williams  and  Fort  Grey  at  War  Neck, 
had  been  captured.  The  former  was  under  command  of 
Capt.  Ira  B.  Sampson,  formerly  of  the  Twenty-Seventh, 
who  at  this  time  was  chief  of  artillery  on  Gen'l  Wessell's 
staff.  For  five  hours  this  force  withstood  the  combined 
attack,  the  entire  artillery  of  the  enemy  and  the  "Albemarle  " 
concentrating  a  fierce  fire  of  grape,  shell  and  solid  shot  upon 
the  fort  until  the  unequal  contest  was  ended  by  the  surren 
der  of  Fort  Williams.  Fort  Grey,  finding  all  the  other 
defences  captured,  capitulated.  The  enemy  heartlessly  mas 
sacred  all  negroes  with  arms,  besides  many  of  the  North 
Carolina  Volunteers.  Our  loss  was  fifteen  killed,  one  hun 
dred  wounded,  and  sixteen  hundred  prisoners;  that  of  the 
enemy  ninety-five  killed,  and  six  hundred  and  thirty-five 
wounded.  After  the  defeat  of  our  naval  forces  by  the 
"Albemarle,"  Capt.  Horace  I.  Hodges,  assistant  quarter 
master,  volunteered  to  carry  dispatches  to  the  fleet  below,  in 
doing  which  his  boat  was  capsized  and  the  captain  drowned. 
Cnpt.  Hodges  was  born  at  Savoy,  June  12,  1818,  a  graduate 
of  Williams  College  1838,  studied  law  with  Bates  &  Hunt- 
ington,  Northampton,  and  with  the  exception  of  three  years, 


Captain  IRA  B.  SAMPSON. 


PLYMOUTH    SURRENDERED  —  CAPT.    SAMPSON.  239 

practised  law  or  resided  at  that  place.  He  was  influential 
in  politics,  a  trial  justice,  judge  of  insolvency,  and  commis 
sioner  for  Hampshire  County.  He  was  commissioned  cap 
tain  and  assistant  quartermaster  1863,  with  assignment  to 
this  post,  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  leaving  a 
widow  and  two  children. 

Jra  B.  Sampson  was  born  in  Middlefield,  April  22,  1840, 
and  received  a  sergeant-major's  warrant  in  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  dated  Dec.  7,  1861.  He  was  com 
missioned  a  second  lieutenant  March  1,  1862,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  resignation,  was  under  recommendation  for 
promotion  with  us.  He  was  present  in  the  marches  and 
battles  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  until  the  close 
of  the  siege  of  Washington,  N.  C.,  receiving  honorable 
mention  for  a  successful  movement  from  Bachelor's  Creek, 
against  Whitford's  guerrillas.  He  was  promoted  as  cap 
tain  of  Company  G,  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  after 
several  months  of  recruiting  service  at  the  North,  returned 
to  active  duty.  Large  bounties  had  drawn  a  great  number 
of  bounty-jumpers  to  his  command,  and  the  moving  of  his 
battalion  to  the  seat  of  war  without  the  loss  of  a  man  was 
warmly  commended  by  Gov.  Andrew  and  Gen'l  Pierce. 

March  1,  1864,  Gen'l  H.  W.  Wessell  appointed  him 
chief  of  artillery,  Department  of  Albemarle.  His  head 
quarters  were  at  Fort  Williams,  the  principal  defence  of 
Plymouth.  Of  the  contest  made  by  this  fort  during  Hoke's 
attack,  Gen'l  Wessell  said:  "  Capt.  Sampson's  guns,  though 
of  old  and  clumsy  patterns,  were  handled  with  a  coolness  and 
skill  worthy  of  all  praise,  inflicting  severe  loss  upon  the 
enemy."  Capt.  Sampson  capitulated  Fort  Williams  five 
hours  after  the  capture  of  the  town  of  Plymouth,  having 
himself  received  a  wound  from  a  shell  just  previous  to  the 
surrender.  He  suffered  imprisonment  ten  months  at  Macon 
and  Savannah,  Ga.,  Charleston  and  Columbia,  S.  C.  He 
escaped  from.  Savannah,  July  3,  1864,  but  was  recap- 


240          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

tared  three  days  later  within  three  miles  of  our  gunboats. 
On  the  approach  of  Gen'l  Sherman  to  Columbia  in  February, 
1865,  he  secreted  himself  between  the  ceiling  and  roof  of  a 
piazza  to  a  hospital  building,  until  the  15th,  when  he  es 
caped  to  a  barn  near  the  city.  Here  he  witnessed  Wheel 
er's  (rebel)  cavalry  fire  the  railroad  depot  and  several 
warehouses,  and  says  the  fire  was  raging  heavily  when  the 
Union  forces  entered  Columbia.  After  serving  on  staff 
duty  to  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  he  descended  the  Cape  Fear 
River  on  the  first  dispatch  boat  in  charge  of  a  howitzer. 
After  a  leave  of  absence  he  returned  to  duty  as  commander 
of  Fort  Macon,  and  resigned  June  8,  1865,  after  the  close 
of  hostilities. 

April  25,  1864,  for  reasons  unknown,  Maj.  Gen'l  Peck 
was  removed  from  the  command  of  the  Department  of 
North  Carolina.  He  retired  from  service  to  his  home  at 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1878.  Col.  Har- 
land,  with  the  Twenty-First  Conn.  Regt.,  was  at  this  time 
holding  Washington,  N.  C.,  and  learning  of  the  capture  of 
Plymouth,  evacuated  the  place,  destroying  the  fortifications 
and  large  quantities  of  military  stores.  All  points  on  the 
rivers  and  sounds  were  expecting  each  in  turn  to  fall  victims 
to  the  "Albemarle."  Our  fleet  had  been  reinforced  by  a 
superior  class  of  naval  vessels,  including  the  "  Sassacus," 
"  Tacony,"  "Wyalusing"  and  "  Mattabesset,"  each  of 
which  were  armed  with  iron  prows.  Commodore  Melanc- 
thon  Smyth,  an  officer  of  large  experience  and  energy,  was 
also  placed  in  command  of  the  naval  forces  in  the  sound,  and 
the  hope  of  the  department  was,  should  the  "Albemarle" 
venture  into  the  open  sound,  the  fleet  might  be  able  to  run 
it  down. 

At  four  P.M.,  May  5th,  the  steamers  "Mattabesset,"  " Sas 
sacus, "and  "  Wyalusing"  were  lying  at  anchor  at  Bluff  Point 
near  Edenton  Bay,  when  they  received  warning  from  the 
"Miami"  and  "  Whitehead,"  on  picket  near  the  mouth  of 


A    NAVAL    COMBAT.  241 

the  Roanoke  River,  that  "  the  Ram  was  out,"  attended  by  the 
"  Bombshell "  and  "Cotton  Plant."  The  "  Ram,"  otherwise 
known  as  the  "Albemarle,"  was  armed  with  two  one-hun 
dred  pound  Brooks  guns,  rifled,  and  these  so  arranged  as  to 
fire  from  front,  sides  and  rear.  It  was  decoyed  by  our  fleet 
to  just  below  Edenton  Bay,  when  the  conflict  was  opened  by 
a  gun  from  the  "Miami."  The  "  Mattabesset "  and  "  Sas- 
sacus"  followed  with  broadsides,  but  their  missiles  bounded 
from  their  mailed  antagonist  like  rubber  balls.  In  turning 
for  a  broadside,  the  deck  of  the  "Sassacus"  was  raked  by  the 
fire  of  sharpshooters  upon  the  steamer"  Bombshell,"  causing 
the  former  to  deliver  its  broadside  upon  the  rebel  craft, 
which  resulted  in  the  immediate  surrender  of  the  "Bomb 
shell."  The  "  Mattabesset "  and  "  Wyalusing  "  were  now 
engaging  the  "Albemarle,"  when  Commander  Roe  of  the 
"  Sassacus,"  determined  to  close  upon  the  foe.  With  thirty 
pounds  of  steam,  and  throttle  wide  open,  the  "Sassacus" 
rushed  for  its  antagonist,  striking  it  amidship  at  a  speed  of 
ten  knots  an  hour.  Its  prow  pierced  the  iron  monster,  and 
with  full  steam  the  "  Sassacus"  continued  to  crowd  its  op 
ponent  heavily  upon  its  side. 

At  the  moment  of  collision  a  hundred-pound  shot  passed 
through  the  "Sassacus"  from  stem  to  stern,  but  without  ma 
terial  damage.  A  black  muzzle  again  protruded  from  the  port 
of  the  foe.  The  crew  of  the  "  Sassacus"  with  haste  trained 
their  Parrott,  and  a  ponderous  shot  shivered  the  muzzle  of 
the  "Albemarle's  "  gun  before  it  could  be  fired.  They  were 
within  ten  feet  of  each  other,  the  powder  from  each  black 
ening  the  side  of  its  antagonist.  It  was  "  broadside  to 
broadside,"  and  "  yard-arm  locked  to  yard,"  while  the  crew 
of  the  "  Sassacus"  threw  shot,  shell  and  hand-grenades  into 
the  ports  of  the  "Albemarle."  Gun  answered  gun  in  quick 
succession,  while  the  scattering  fire  of  sharpshooters  was 
working  death  on  either  side.  Another  gun  protrudes  from 
the  ram,  and  another  Parrolt  on  the  "  Sassacus"  is  quickly 


242          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

trained  upon  it,  and  both  discharge  together.  But  a  sound 
strikes  the  crew  of  the  "  Sassacus,"  more  terrible  than  that  of 
belching  cannon  or  bursting  shell.  The  enemy's  shot  has 
passed  through  her  boiler,  and  quick  as  thought,  the  "  Sas 
sacus  "  is  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  scalding  steam.  Scores 
are  writhing  in  the  burning  mist,  but  the  brave  gunners 
stick  to  their  batteries,  and  ply  their  ponderous  missiles 
upon  the  mailed  sides  of  the  foe. 

It  is  a  duel  for  life,  and  the  divisions  stand  to  their  guns 
with  a  gallantry  unequalled  since  the  days  of  Decatur.  At 
length  one  of  our  hundred-pound  shots  crumbles  against  the 
iron  craft,  part  of  the  ball  wedging  itself  into  and  sealing 
the  port,  and  thus  silencing  the  rebel  guns.  Still  our 
batteries  continue  their  incessant  pounding,  until  the  steam 
has  exhausted  from  the  boilers  of  the  "  Sassacus,"  and  its 
wheels  fail  to  revolve,  when  it  helplessly  drifts  away  from 
its  antagonist.  When  the  steam  cleared  away,  the  crew  of 
the  "  Sassacus"  saw  the  foe  making  effort  to  escape.  Nine 
teen  had  been  severely  burned  and  one  killed  by  the  scald 
ing  steam,  and  though  the  burns  were  deep  and  painful,  they 
forgot  their  sufferings  and  cheered  lustily  over  the  victory. 
The  fleet  followed  the  ironclad  to  the  Roanoke  River,  but 
the  latter  succeeded  in  making  good  its  escape.  It  is  hard 
to  avoid  the  conviction  that  had  the  other  vessels  joined  in 
the  fray  at  close  quarters,  it  would  have  been  impossible  for 
the  "Albemarle"  to  have  escaped. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  a  more  portentous 
feature  of  the  enemy's  plan  was  developed  by  a  force,  esti 
mated  at  fifteen  thousand  men  under  General  Hoke,  leaving 
Kinston  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  New  Berne.  The 
connection  Avas  too  evident.  This  place  was  now  under 
command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  I.  N.  Palmer,  an  officer  who  — 
whatever  his  accomplishments  —  failed  to  inspire  confidence 
in  his  nerve  and  valor.  The  reliance  of  the  District  was 
rather  on  Capt.  J.  A.  Judson,  Assistant  Adjutant- General 


HOKE  ATTACKS  NEW  BERNE.  243 

on  his  staff,  an  officer  of  unquestioned  courage  and  ability 
and,  as  Capt.  Denny  well  says,  "  of  energy  enough  to  run 
half  a  dozen  headquarters,  and,  with  his  big  goose-quill, 
able  to  turn  off  any  amount  of  solid  work." 

Nine  o'clock,  May  5th,  the  enemy  were  discovered  in 
heavy  force  upon  the  south  of  the  Trent,  intercepting  com 
munication  with  Beaufort,  and  commenced  the  construction 
of  batteries  along  the  river,  and  opposing  our  works.  The 
fire  from  our  navy  interfered  little  with  their  labor,  but  no 
demonstration  was  made  by  them  against  any  part  of  our 
line.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  as  the  monitor  car  ran 
down  to  the  creek  bridge,  it  was  met  by  a  flag  of  truce  with 
a  formal  demand  from  Gen'l  Hoke,  for  "  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  New  Berne  and  its  forces,  or  the  place  would 
be  stormed  at  four  P.M.,  and  the  garrison  held  responsible 
for  the  useless  loss  of  life."  We  were  assured  the  "Albe- 
marle "  was  then  in  the  river  and  no  possible  hope  could 
exist  for  aid  from  any  direction.  Negroes  were  again  forced 
to  the  front  and  Lieut.  Hunt's  valiant  "  Letter  B  Company" 
rallied  for  defence,  for  the  available  force  outside  of  conval 
escents  did  not  exceed  three  thousand  men.  Everything 
indicated  that  the  enemy  would  assault  the  southern  de 
fences,  as  our  weakest  point,  and  these  were  strengthened 
by  troops  from  Fort  Totten. 

At  five  P.M.,  there  having  been  no  assault,  a  reconnois- 
sance  was  made  by  Capt.  Graham  of  the  First  North  Carolina 
Union  Cavalry,  who  reported  the  enemy  in  full  retreat.  On 
capturing  some  of  their  rear  guard  at  Pollocksville,  he 
learned  that  "  Gen'l  Pickett  had  received  a  dispatch  from 
Richmond  saying  a  large  force  of  Yankees  had  landed  a  few 
miles  below  that  city  and  ordering  him  to  hasten  with  the 
utmost  dispatch  to  its  relief."  Thus  again  was  New  Berne 
saved,  and  though  hundreds  of  miles  intervened,  the  move 
ments  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  as  it  advanced  on 
Richmond  from  Bermuda  Hundreds,  was  the  means  of  once 


244  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

more  saving  New  Berne  and  its  garrison  from  the  grasp  of 
the  enemy.  It  was  a  prize  which  might  well  have  tempted 
the  most  ambitious.  With  it  the  entire  control  of  North 
Carolina  would  have  reverted  to  the  enemy,  while  its  enor 
mous  supplies  would  have  aided  their  depleted  stores.  The 
prestige  of  such  a  victory  would  have  strengthened  their 
cause  in  the  field  and  with  the  nations.  The  heroic  deeds  of 
our  navy  and  the  sudden  advance  of  Heckman's  brigade 
within  sight  of  the  rebel  capital  frustrated  their  deep-laid 
plans. 


THE  ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES.  245 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES. 

OUR  record  left  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Vols.  at 
Julian's  Creek,  Ya.,  where,  at  eleven,  A.M.,  April  26,  1864, 
it  received  marching  orders,  with  instructions  to  forward 

O 

unnecessary  baggage  north,  and  to  store  their  camp  equipage 
at  Portsmouth,  Va.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the 
regiment  embarked  upon  the  steamer  "  Escort,"  an  old-time 
friend  in  Xorth  Carolina.  We  left  Portsmouth  at  five 
o'clock  the  morning  of  the  27th,  and  arrived  at  Yorktown 
about  noon.  Here  we  received  our  first  issue  of  shelter- 
tents,  in  preparation  for  the  summer  campaign.  After 
marching  and  countermarching  to  deceive  the  enemy,  we 
embarked  upon  the  steamer  "  Winona"  at  Yorktown,  Va., 
with  sealed  orders.  For  the  purport  of  these  orders,  and 
the  manner  of  execution,  we  refer  to  the  following  special 
report  for  this  work,  from  the  commander  of  the  Brigade. 

BRIG.-GEN'L  C.  A.  HECKMAN'S  REPORT  ; 

OB 

THE  ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES. 
ITS  MISMANAGED   MOVEMENT  ON  THE   JAMES  RIVER,  AND   How  IT  ENDED  IN 

DlSASTEll. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  April,  1864,  the  Army  of  the 
James,  composed  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  Gen'l  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  and 
the  Eighteenth  Corps.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith,  under  command  of  Gen'l 
B.  F.  Butler,  commenced  moving  to  co-operate  in  the  reduction  ot 
Richmond,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  Gen'l  Grant.  The 
fleet,  sailed  up  the  York  River  to  Yorktown.  The  Star  Brigade, 


246  TWENTY- SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

composed  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  and  Twentj'-Third,  Twenty  - 
Fifth  and  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  was  sent  up  the  peninsula  near 
to  Williamsburg,  a  large  number  of  transports  meanwhile  sailing 
further  up  the  river.  This  movement  being  designed  only  as  a 
feint,  the  troops  suddenly  counter-marched  and  re-embarked,  the 
whole  fleet  returning  during  the  night  of  May  4th,  to  Fortress 
Monroe.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  fleet  sailed  up  the  James 
River,  the  ironclads  in  advance,  and  in  the  evening  the  Star 
Brigade  debarked  at  Bermuda  Hundreds  and  marched  inland  one 

O 

mile,  to  cover  the  landing  of  our  arm}'.  Next  morning  took  pos 
session  of  Cobb's  Hill  without  opposition.  It  is  at  the  neck  of  the 
narrow  strip  of  land  known  as  Bermuda  Hundreds,  around  which 
the  river  bends,  so  that  our  army  rested  both  its  wings  on  it, 
though  the}7  were  many  miles  apart  by  water.  A  line  of  works 
across  this  neck,  with  its  flanks  covered  by  gunboats  in  the  river, 
made  it  a  most  defensible  position,  and  one  also  in  which  an  aim 
less  force  could  easily  be  rendered  neutral  by  an  inferior  one. 
About  1  P.M.,  under  orders  from  Gen'l  Butler  to  "ascertain,  if  pos 
sible,  the  numbers  and  position  of  the  enemy,  but  be  sure  to  avoid 
bringing  on  a  general  engagement,"  my  brigade  moved  forward  to 
Port  Walthall  Junction,  on  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond  Railroad. 
We  found  the  enemy  well  posted  behind  the  railroad  embankment. 
Our  skirmishers  drove  their  pickets  back  upon  their  main  line,  and 
the  order  in  which  they  retired  proved  them  to  be  regular  troops. 
To  develop  their  strength,  a  section  of  three-inch  rifled  guns 
opened  a  brisk  and  most  accurate  fire  upon  them,  dropping  its 
shells  in  the  midst  of  their  infantry,  en  masse.  After  a  couple  of 
hours  manoeuvring,  the  enemy  failing  to  respond  with  artillery  to 
our  annoying  practice,  I  was  assured  the  force  on  our  front  was  a 
small  one  (two  or  three  regiments),  and  from  information  obtained 
from  deserters  that  it  was  the  only  body  of  regular  troops  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  returned  to  camp  and  reported  accordingly. 
"The  brigade  being  (by  its  orders)  restricted  in  its  movements,  I 
put  in  practice  a  manoeuvre,  on  which  I  felt  considerable  anxiety ; 
viz.,  how  it  would  be  effected  in  retiring  from  the  enemy  under  fire. 
In  double  line  of  battle  they  marched  steadily  forward  until  within 
half-musket  range,  then  charged  on  the  double  quick  to  the  enemy's 
breastwork,  when  the  recall  sounding  brought  them  right  about. 


GEN.  c.  A.  HECKMAN'S  REPORT.  247 

They  retired  about  one  hundred  yards,  faced  to  the  front,  sent  a 
volley7  into  the  Johnnies,  again  faced  to  the  rear  and  steadily 
marching  out  of  range,  faced  to  the  front,  the  rebs  keeping  up  a 
steady  fire,  but  not  venturing  from  behind  their  breastwork.  The 
movement  was  admirably  executed,  and  drew  expressions  of 
admiration  from  the  members  of  Gen'l  Smith's  staff  that  were 
present."  If  an  immediate  advance  on  Petersburg  by  one  of  our 
corps,  and  simultaneous  with  that  movement  an  attack  on  Drewry's 
Bluff  by  the  other  corps  had  been  made,  we  would  have  carried 
both  points  with  comparatively  small  loss.  But  the  great  oppor 
tunity  for  a  decisive  strike  was  thrown  awa}\  The  landing  on  the 
south  side  of  the  James  had  been  a  complete  surprise  ;  but  that 
night  the  "  Cockade  City  "  slept  secure,  with  only  one  small  South 
Carolina  brigade,  the  Washington  Artillery  (unserviceable  for 
want  of  horses),  the  militia  (Bates'  battalion  of  boys,  "  for  local 
defence,'')  and  a  regiment  of  Clingman's  brigade  —  a  ridiculously 
inadequate  force  —  to  defend  it,  and  Butler's  army  of  thirty-five 
thousand  veterans  in  sight  of  its  church  steeples.  As  it  was  after 
ward  ascertained,  Kautz's  Cavalry,  who  had  moved  (via  Suffolk) 
simultaneously  with  the  Army  of  the  James,  had  been  partially 
successful  in  cutting  "the  Weldon  road,"  and  the  small  force 
engaged  at  Port  Walthall  was  all  of  Beauregard's  troops,  coming 
hurriedly  up  from  South  Carolina,  that  had  been  able  to  pass  the 
break  in  the  railroad.  On  the  7th  a  meaningless  movement  was 
made  on  Port  Walthall,  and  a  useless  battle  fought.  Weitzel,  it  is 
true,  destroyed  several  miles  of  railroad,  but  the  enemy  repaired  it 
the  following  day,  while  our  army  remained  supinely  in  camp. 
Wise,  Hoke  and  Keraper  now  arrived,  and  formed  line  on  Swift 
Creek.  Beauregard  arrived,  and  to  him  Geu'l  Pickett  turned  over 
the  command,  which  he  had  held  for  so  many  anxious  days  and 
nights.  Monday,  the  9th,  our  two  corps  made  their  first  combined 
or  even  concerted  movement,  the  operations  of  days  before  having 
been  carried  on  by  detached  brigades  and  divisions.  A  small  force 
of  rebel  infantry,  with  a  section  of  Whitworth  guns,  was  encountered 
at  Swift  Creek,  three  miles  from  Petersburg.  The  Star  Brigade 
was  deployed -in  two  lines  of  battle  on  the  right  and  left  of  the 
road.  They  fired  a  round  over  our  heads,  fell  back  to  the  next 
hill,  and  so  cont'nued  to  fire  and  fall  back  until  we  had  arrived 


248  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

within  three  hundred  yards  of  Arrowfield  Church.  Here  they 
appeared  in  strong  force,  and  assumed  a  vigorous  offensive.  I  was 
about  to  relieve  my  front  line  with  the  second,  but,  instead,  closed 
up,  instructing  my  colonels  to  fire  at  a  given  signal.  The  Con 
federates  came  on  in  splendid  style  with  the  peculiar  "  rebel  yell  " 
till  within  forty  yards  of  our  line,  when  our  crushing  volley  swept 
them  over  the  brow  of  the  hill  and  across  the  creek  into  the  arms 
of  their  comrades  who  were  holding  a  redoubt  which  covered  the 
ford.  It  was  a  gallant  charge  and  a  bloody  repulse.  Capt.  Leroy 
Hammond,  mortally  wounded,  and  a  prisoner  in  our  hands, 
when  told  that  the  troops  who  were  opposed  to  the  Con 
federates  were  the  "  Star  Brigade "  composed  of  the  Ninth 
New  Jersey,  and  Twenty -Third,  Twenty-Fifth  and  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  Regts.,  remarked  "that  it  was  a  striking  coincidence  that 
two  regiments  of  the  attacking  force,  the  Twenty-Fifth  and 
Twenty-Seventh  South  Carolina,  should  have  met  two  regiments 
of  the  same  numbers  from  her  most  inveterate  enemy  —  Massa 
chusetts."  "  The  attack  would  not  have  been  made,"  he  said, 
"  but  for  the  idea  that  our  troops  were  ninety  days'  emergency 
men,  and  certainly  the  timorous  movements  of  our  army  since  the 
landing  gave  some  reason  for  such  an  opinion."  On  no  other 
h3"pothesis  could  the  enemy  account  for  our  failure  to  advance. 
For  the  next  four  or  five  days,  while  our  enemy  was  marching 
hither  and  thither  in  the  open  county,  the  time  was  improved  by 
Beauregard  in  hurrying  up  troops  and  getting  them  well  in  hand. 
From  Drewry's  Bluff  he  suggested  to  Gen'l  Bragg  "  that  Gen'l  Lee 
should  fall  back  to  the  defensive  line  of  the  Chickahominj-,  or  even 
to  the  immediate  lines  of  Richmond,  sending  temporarily  to  this 
place  fifteen  thousand  of  his  ti'oops.  Immediately  on  this  acces 
sion  to  my  present  force  I  would  take  the  offensive  and  attack 
Butler's  arnvy  vigorously.  Such  a  move  would  throw  me  di- 
rectty  upon  Butler's  communications,  and,  as  he  now  stands,  on 
his  right  flank,  well  towards  the  rear.  Gen'l  Whiting  should  also 
move  simultaneously.  Butler  must  then  necessarity  be  crushed  or 
captured,  and  the  stores  of  that  arm}'  would  fall  into  our  hands." 
This  was  written  on  the  14th.  Let  us  now  see  how  well  the  plan 
was  carried  out.  Our  arm}7  at  this  time  was  facing  north,  and 
operating  more  immediately  against  Fort  Darling,  having,  on  the 


GEN.  c.  A.  HECKMAN'S  REPORT.  249 

ver}'  clay  that  Beanregard's  dispatch  is  dated,  driven  the  enemy 
within  his  works.  The  enemy  held  a  strong  line  of  works,  extend 
ing  from  Fort  Darling  on  our  right  to  the  Appomattox  on  our  left, 
and  threatening  us,  instead  of  our  threatening  them  —  we  being  in 
an  essentially  false  position.  The  Star  Brigade  held  the  extreme 
right  of  our  line,  "  at  the  base  of  Drewry's  Bluff  and  within  half 
musket  range  of  their  outer  earthwork,"  with  an  unoccupied  space 
of  one  and  a  quarter  miles  between  it  and  the  river.  This  was  the 
most  important  part  of  our  line,  as  it  covered  the  shortest  route 
to  our  base  and  supplies  on  the  James.  On  the  morning  of  the 
loth  there  was  a  scattered  musketry  fire,  with  an  occasional  vollej'. 
In  the  afternoon  it  was  perfectly  calm.  The  unusual  quietness  of 
an  enterprising  enemy  was  suspicious,  and  having  learned  that  he 
had  been  reinforced  by  Anderson's  corps  of  Lee's  army,  it  became 
apparent  that  Beauregard  meant  to  attack  us  while  our  faulty 
position  offered  such  an  excellent  opportunity  for  an  effective 
stroke.  With  our  glasses  we  saw  President  Davis,  Beauregard 
and  other  general  officers,  reconnoitring  our  position,  and  from 
deserters  we  learned  that  a  plan  of  attack  was  being  made,  the 
troops  selected  for  the  assault  even  being  named.  This  state  of 
affairs  I  in  person  reported  at  division  and  army  headquarters, 
with  a  request  for  reinforcements  to  occupy  the  all-important  space 
between  my  right  and  the  river.  "After  reporting  to  Gen'l 
Weitzel,  at  his  request  I  started,  Capt.  Belger  accompanying 
me,"  for  Gen'l  Smith's  quarters,  but  being  wrongly  directed  I  rode 
into  Gen'l  Butler's,  and,  before  I  was  able  to  beat  a  retreat,  Maj. 
Kensel  appeared  at  the  door  and  said  that  Gen'l  Butler  wished  to 
see  me.  With  my  verbal  report,  I  gave  to  the  General  a  rough 
diagram  of  the  position  of  both  forces  in  my  end  of  the  line.  He 
seemed  to  be  impressed  with  the  importance  of  my  request,  and  I 
expected  the  needed  reinforcements.  Just  at  this  moment  Gen'l 
Smith  came  in,  and  Gen'l  Butler  gave  him  the  substance  of  my 
report.  I  was  impressed  with  the  thought  that  my  irregular  trans 
mission  of  information  had  more  effect  upon  him  than  the  informa 
tion  itself.  He,  however,  visited  my  line,  and  seemed  to  realize 
that  there  was  solid  ground  for  m}*  apprehension.  Later  in  the 
afternoon  two  sections  of  Columbiads  and  one  section  of  twenty- 
inch  rifled  guns,  under  command  of  Capt.  Belger,  were  sent  to 


250  TAVENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

cover  the  gap,  and  subsequently  withdrawn,  for  safety.  "They 
were  'captured  the  next  day."  Afterward  a  squadron  of  the 
Eleventh  Penn.  Cavalry  were  sent  to  guard  the  space  on  my  right 
that  should  have  been  occupied  by  a  brigade  of  infantry  with 
artillery.  Being  thus  denied  the  reinforcements  so  sorely  needed, 
and  unable  to  procure  wire  for  the  protection  of  my  front,  "  but 
with  which  the  whole  line  to  my  left  was  amply  supplied,"  prepa 
rations  were  at  once  made  to  meet  the  attack  we  were  assured 
would  be  made  before  the  rising  of  another  sun.  A  breastwork  of 
such  material  as  could  be  gathered  was  quietly  and  hastily  thrown 
up,  so  that  the  position,  so  essential  to  the  safety  of  our  army, 
should  be  defended  to  the  last.  On  my  right  and  well  thrown 
forward  was  posted  a  strong  picket  line,  the  men  grouped  in  fours 
in  gopher  holes,  with  the  right  resting  on  a  farm-house,  fully  one 
mile  on  our  right  front,  under  command  of  Capt.  Lawrence  of 
the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  who  was  instructed  to  give  a  vigorous 
resistance  to  any  force  coming  against  him.  At  midnight  the  rebs 
moved  out  from  their  works,  massing  strongly  on  our  extreme 
right,  and  just  before  daylight,  having  obtained  position, 
rushed  with  great  impetuosit}-  on  our  pickets,  but  after  a  desperate 
struggle  were  forced  back  by  the  gallant  Capt.  Lawrence,  and  day 
broke  (thanks  to  the  vigilance  and  gallantry  of  the  Star  Brigade) 
with  our  lines  still  unbroken.  Shortly  after  dawn  a  dense  fog  sud 
denly  enveloped  us,  completely  concealing  the  enemy  from  our 
view.  Five  picked  brigades  in  column  debouched  from  the 
enemy's  works,  and,  rapidly  advancing,  drove  in  our  pickets, 
pressing  up  on  a  run  to  our  main  line.  Hearing  their  approach, 
my  brigade  swept  instantly  into  line,  and  steadily  awaited  their 
coming.  When  only  five  paces  intervened  between  the  rebel 
ba3'onets  and  our  inflexible  line  a  simultaneous  scorching  volley 
swept  into  the  faces  of  the  exultant  foe,  smiting  hundreds  to  the 
earth  and  hurling  the  whole  column  back  in  confusion.  Five  times, 
encouraged  and  rallied  by  their  officers,  that  magnificent  rebel  in 
fantry  advanced  to  the  attack,  but  only  to  meet  and  be  driven  back 
by  those  relentless  volleys  of  musketry.  Finding  it  impossible  to 
succeed  by  a  direct  attack  the}7  now  changed  front,  and  attempted 
to  crush  m}T  right,  held  by  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  but  here,  too, 
the  right  wing  having  been  reserved,  they  were  met  by  a  galling 


GEN.  IIECKMAN'S  REPORT  CONCLUDED.  251 

fire,  and  again  for  a  moment  faltered.  But  soon  they  once  more 
advanced  in  column  by  brigade,  and  the  Star  Brigade,  being  with 
out  artiller}'  and  withal  vastlj'  outnumbered,  was,  for  the  first  time 
in  its  history,  compelled  to  fall  back  and  take  up  a  new  position. 
While  this  movement  was  being  executed,  —  the  Ninth  already  in 
position,  —  my  staff  being  engaged  in  other  parts  of  the  field,  I 
passed  along  to  the  left  of  the  Ninth  to  a  point  I  supposed  to  be  occu 
pied  by  the  Twenty-Third,  but  found  instead  an  approaching  line  of 
battle.  Taking  it  to  be  reinforcements,  I  ordered  them  to  wheel 
to  the  right  and  charge,  and  at  the  next  moment  discovered  that 
they  were  u  gray  backs,"  and  at  nine  A.  M.  of  the  IGth,  I  was  a 
guest  at  the  Hotel  de  Libby.  I  never  at  any  other  time  ex 
perienced  such  musketry  fire  as  on  that  day.  It  was  one  incessant 
volley,  and  its  terrible  fatalit}r  may  be  judged  from  the  fact  that 
the  enemy  acknowledged  a  loss  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  on 
my  front  al'Hie  ;  and  I  lost  nearly  all  my  field  and  line  officers, 
either  killed  or  wounded.  Many  others  joined  me  at  Drewry's  Bluff 
and  accompanied  me  up  the  river  to  Richmond.  The  result  of 
the  campaign  which  culminated  in  this  battle  was  a  source  of  great 
congratulation  to  the  enemy.  Not  only  was  the  threatened 
danger  to  Petersburg  and  Richmond  averted,  but  the  pressure  on 
their  lines  of  communication  was  relieved  ;  and  Butler,  besides  suf 
fering  a  terrible  loss,  was  shut  up  and  held  inactive  by  a  compara 
tively  small  force.  Had  Gen'l  Whiting  moved  out  of  Petersburg 
with  his  ten  thousand  men  as  directed,  the  Army  of  the  James  could 
not  have  escaped  destruction.  The  ultimate  results  :  The  spoiling  of 
Grant's  plan  of  campaign,  the  transfer  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
to  the  south  of  Richmond ;  the  siege  of  Petersburg ;  the  bloody 
struggle  for  the  Weldon  road,  all  these,  with  their  enormous 
losses  of  life  and  property,  are  the  sadder  to  think  of  when  it  is 
remembered  that  it  was  all  caused  by  the  incompetent  handling  of 
the  Army  of  the  James,  composed  of  two  veteran  corps,  the  equal 
of  an}-  in  the  United  States  armies.  Gen'l  Grant  laid  the  onus  of 
the  failure  on  Gen'l  Butler  in  a  caustic  paragraph  of  his  official  re 
ports  ;  the  press  and  the  histories  of  the  war  blame  him,  with 
the  severest  language,  and  even  now  the  nation  at  large  call  him 
"bottled-up  Butler." 

It  would  hardly  be  satisfactory  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  or 


252          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

its  friends  to  neglect  to  mention  their  part  in  these  impor 
tant  movements  narrated  by  Gen'l  Heckman,  even  at  the 
risk  of  repetition.  After  reaching  Bermuda  Hundreds,  land 
ing  was  effected  without  opposition,  the  Twenty-Seventh 
advancing  a  mile,  and  bivouacking  in  a  wheat-field.  At  six 
A.M.,  Friday,  May  6th,  the  regiment  started  for  Cobb's  Hill, 
seven  miles  distant.  The  morning  was  cloudless,  and  the 
winding,  sandy  road  was  soon  strewn  with  blankets,  coats 
and  shoes,  which  the  heat  and  toil  of  the  way  made  unendur 
able.  No  enemy  was  discovered,  and  by  noon  we  halted  at 
Cobb's  Hill,  near  a  deserted  signal-tower.  Our  forces  at 
once  commenced  the  construction  of  a  line  of  fortifications 
from  "  Point  of  Rocks"  to  "  Dutch  Gup  Bend,"  four  miles 
distant,  leaving  a  large,  irregular  peninsula  in  our  rear,  cap 
able  of  easy  defence,  and  every  way  suitable  as  a  basis  for 
intended  operations.  The  Army  of  the  James  consisted  of 
the 

Eighteenth  Array  Corps,  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  (Baldy)  Smith  com 
manding. 

First  Division,  Maj.  Gen'l Brooks. 

Second  Division,  Maj.  Gen'l  Godfre}'  Weitzel. 
Third  Division,  Brig.  Gen'l  Edward  W.  Hincks. 

The  Tenth  Army  Corps,  Maj.  Gen'l  Q.  A.  Gillmore  com 
manding,  with  three  divisions  under  command  of  Gen'ls 
Ames,  Terry,  and  Turner.  The  whole  force  numbered 
about  thirty-four  thousand  men,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Gen'l  B.  F.  Butler.  The  Twenty-Seventh  was  of  the  Sec 
ond  Division,  Eighteenth  Corps,  and,  as  previously  stated, 
under  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  C.  A.  Heckman. 

At  four  P.M.,  Gen'l  Heckman,  under  orders  to  develop  the 
enemy's  force  and  position,  advanced  his  brigade,  with  Com 
panies  A  and  H  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  as  skirmishers,  sup 
ported  by  the  regiment  in  close  column.  Passing  through 
light  timber-land,  and  over  a  ravine  beyond  an  old  mill, 


\  Cl  Gregory 

**.  \     ,-sv 

"n       Halfway  House',     ', 

^T  *N^*  *^-^^ri^~. *t 


^          /  / 
«       \     •  // 

ng""~--s       May  9,  1864 

'•''  \  \  P< 

rfttwfieM.  H.\    ,__j 


VV>> 


'  Deep  Bottom 


MAP 

OF 

BERMUDA  HUNDREDS 

AND  VICINITY. 

FOR  THE 

HISTORY 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  MASS.  REGT. 


BATTLE    OF   WALTHALL   JUNCTION.  253 

they  encountered  and  followed  the  enemy's  pickets,  emerg 
ing  into  an  open  field  known  as  the  "Mary  Dunn  Farm," 
in  full  view  of  the  junction  of  the  Richmond  and  Peters 
burg,  and  Port  Walthall  branch  railroads.  The  skirmish 
line  advanced  so  rapidly  the  column  had  difficulty  in 
keeping  supporting  distance,  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  jo 
cosely  remarking,  "The  Twenty-Seventh  skirmishers  must 
be  trying  to  connect  with  the  "  Richmond  Express." 
As  the  main  column  emerged  from  the  woods,  a  train 
of  cars  arrived  loaded  with  rebel  troops,  who,  dismount 
ing,  advanced  a  line  of  skirmishers  towards  our  posi 
tion.  The  main  body  of  the  enemy  attempted  to  show 
their  coolness  by  going  through  the  manual  of  arms  upon 
the  field.  Seeing  this,  Capt.  Sandford  with  Company  H, 
pressed  forward  at  double- quick,  followed  by  Capt.  D wight 
with  Company  A  as  a  "reserve  for  skirmishers."  Slowly 
and  regularly  the  opposing  skirmishers  gave  way  to  Capt. 
Sandford's  impetuous  advance,  showing  by  their  regular 
movements  we  were  contending  with  veterans.  After  cross 
ing  a  ravine,  our  skirmishers  encountered  a  severe  fire,  the 
enemy  using  the  banks  and  fences  skirting  the  railroad  as 
parapets.  Capt.  Dwight  with  Company  A  advanced  to  their 
relief,  and  by  courage  and  coolness  enabled  the  skirmishers 
to  retire  to  the  ravine  without  material  loss. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  advanced  in  line  of  battle  across  the 
field  to  the  ravine  in  support  of  the  skirmishers,  where  the 
regiment  opened  fire.  The  remainder  of  the  brigade 
formed  en  echelon,  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass,  supporting  the 
Twenth-Seventh  Regiment,  with  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  and 
Twenty-Third  Mass,  to  the  right  and  left.  Howard's  Fourth 
U.  S.  Battery  opened  with  shell  upon  the  enemy,  but 
were  replied  to  with  musketry  only,  one  ball  taking  off  a 
part  of  Gen'l  Heckman's  little  finger,  and  killing  his  horse. 
An  "Aid"  dismounted,  offering  the  general  his  horse,  with 
which  he  returned  to  his  position,  amid  the  cheers  of  his 


254  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

brigade.     For  an  hour  a  sheet  of  fire  crowned  the  summit  of 

O 

the  railroad  and  fence,  sweeping  our  position,  while  the  fire 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  covered  the  field  with  a  dense  cloud. 
The  brigade  moved  forward,  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  and 
Twenty-Third  Mass,  opening  fire  near  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
while  the  gallant  old  Twenty-Fifth  stood  in  reserve,  receiv 
ing  unanswered  the  ffallino;  fire.  The  sun  had  long  been 

O  O  O  O 

below  the  horizon,  when  Genl  Heckman,  satisfied  that  the 
enemy  was  present  in  small  force  and  that  without  artil 
lery,  ordered  the  recall. 

It  was  a  keen  disappointment  to  his  veteran  troops,  and 
to  retreat  in  order  under  such  a  fire,  tested,  as  no  other 
movement  could,  the  courage  and  discipline  of  the  brigade. 
Being  farthest  to  the  front,  the  Twenty-Seventh  was  now  the 
rear  guard,  and  facing  to  the  rear,  loaded  as  they  retired 
with  measured  steps;  then  faced  to  the  front  and  fired,  re 
peating  the  movement  until  beyond  range  of  the  enemy.  This 
was  witnessed  by  members  of  Gen'l  Smith's  staff',  and  drew 
from  them  and  the  commanding  general  expressions  of  un 
qualified  praise.  The  astonished  enemy  made  no  attempt  to 
follow.  Our  force  reached  Cobb's  Hill  about  ten  o'clock 
P.M.  The  Union  loss  was  eight  killed  and  sixty  wounded, 
and  that  of  the  Confederates,  as  reported  by  the  rebel  gen 
eral,  Hagood,  two  killed  and  thirty-one  wounded.  Gen'l 
Hagood  also  says  this  force  consisted  of  the  Twenty-First 
and  Twenty-Fifth  South  Carolina  Regiments  under  command 
of  Col.  Graham  of  the  Twenty-First. 

It  is  worthy  of  record  that  this  engagement  is  immortal 
ized  in  Confederate  record  as  a  victory,  Jefferson  Davis,  in 
his  "  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederacy,"  saying,  "  We  com 
pelled  them  to  withdraw  to  the  shelter  of  their  gunboats," 
while  some  Confederate  poet  has  enshrined  in  verse  the 
"Victory  of  Walthall." 


LOSSES  :    MARY    DUNN   FARM.  255 

The  loss  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  was  :  — 

GEORGE  STEVENS,  Company  A,  "VVilliamsburg,  killed. 
Sergt.  ALFRED  L.  MANTOR,  Company  B,  Hawley,  killed. 

WOUNDED. 

Maj.  William  A.  Walker,  right  foot,  slight. 
Lafayette  Smith,  Company  A,  Enfield,  right  shoulder,  fatal. 
George  A.  Hill,  Company  A,  Easthampton,  leg,  slight. 
Corp.  William  B.  Bliss,  Company  B,  New  Salem,  right  leg. 
Alonzo  J.  Thomas,  Company  B,  Shutesbury,  left  side. 
George  A.  Draper,  Company  D,  Amherst,  abdomen,  fatal. 
Peter  McGowan,  Company  D,  Springfield,  left  thigh,  slight. 
Henry  McCoomb,  Company  E,  Pittsfield,  both  thigh  and  groin, 
severe. 

Charles  L.  Nve,  Company  E,  Lee,  right  shoulder. 
A.  Gilmore,  Company  F,  Otis,  right  leg,  severe. 
Henry  J.  Pulsifer,  Compaq-  G,  Chicopee,  right  thigh,  severe. 
Leverett  Clark,  Company  H,  Newburyport,  right  arm,  flesh. 
John  O.  Erwin,  Company  II,  Adams,  groin,  severe. 
George  McGue,  Company  H,  Adams,  left  arm. 
Corp.  Newton  Wallace,  Company  I,  Holland,  face,  flesh  wound. 
Dorr  R.  Bruce,  Company  K,  Longmeadow,  abdomen,  fatal. 

Total:     Two  killed  and  sixteen  wounded, 

Comrade  Stevens  of  Company  A  was  on  temporary  ser 
vice  with  the  ordnance  officer,  and,  in  a  moment  of  leisure, 
was  permitted  to  take  the  officer's  horse,  to  visit  the  front. 
He  unfortunately  ran  into  an  ambush,  and  the  horse  returned 
a  few  moments  later  without  a  rider.  His  body  was  not  re 
covered. 

May  7th  an  advance  was  made  by  our  forces  to  destroy 
the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Railroad.  Burnham's  Brigade 
of  Brooks's  Division,  occupied  the  centre,  with  Heckman's 
Brigade  supporting  its  left  by  way  of  Walthall  Junction,  and 
two  brigades  of  the  Tenth  Corps  supporting  its  right  flank 
by  the  Chesterfield  turnpike.  The  Twenty-Seventh  again 


256  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

took  the  advance  by  the  route  of  the  night  previous,  reach 
ing  the  Dunn  farm  about  nine  A.M.  without  opposition.  The 
enemy  were  present  with  increased  force,  Hunton's,  Barton's, 
and  Grade's  rebel  brigades,  with  artillery  and  cavalry,  re 
sisting  our  advance.  Our  artillery  was  placed  in  front  of 
the  "  Mary  Dunn  house,"  while  the  brigade  rested  in  double 
column  half  distance  at  its  rear.  An  artillery  duel  was 
maintained  the  entire  day,  with  a  loss  to  our  brigade  of  nine 
Avounded,  of  which  five  were  from  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  The  following  was  our  list  of  wounded  :  — 

Capt.  Charles  D.  Sandford,  North  Adams  ;  thigh  ;  slight. 
John  Richards,  Compan}-  C,  Hatfield  ;  face  and  chest ;   slight. 
Charles  Walker,  Company  C,  Easthampton ;   finger;  slight. 
Malachi  Horner,  Company  F,  Southwick  ;  back  ;  slight. 
Elijah  AV.  Knight,  Compan}'  H,  Springfield  ;  back  ;  slight. 

The  heat  of  the  sun  was  intense,  and,  with  the  suffocating, 
sulphurous  clouds,  taxed  our  endurance  to  the  utmost,  fifty 
of  our  regiment  suffering  from  sunstroke.  At  our  right, 
Gen'l  Brooks  was  heavily  engaged,  and  succeeded  in  reach 
ing  and  destroying  a  mile  of  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg 
Railroad  during  the  day,  after  which  the  column  retired 
once  more  to  camp  at  Cobb's  Hill. 

It  is  hard  to  say  why  these  repeated  warnings  were  given 
the  enemy,  or  why  opportunity  was  afforded  them  for  con 
centration  and  defence.  A  surprise  could  not  have  been 
more  perfect,  or  promised  more  glorious  results.  The 
available  forces  of  Richmond  had  been  hastened  to  oppose 
the  "  Army  of  the  Potomac"  —  which  had  crossed  the  Rap- 
idan,  May  4th  ;  Gen'l  Beauregard  had  delayed  departure 
from  Charleston,  S.  C.,  not  knowing  the  destination  of 
the  Tenth  Corps,  while  all  of  Gen'l  Pickett's  available 
force  was  two  hundred  miles  distant,  before  the  fortifications 
of  New  Berne,  when  the  Army  of  the  James  first  landed 
at  Bermuda  Hundreds.  Not  a  man  could  be  spared  from 


GEN.  GRANT'S  INSTRUCTIONS.  257 

the  conflict  with  Gcn'l  Grant ;  Gen'l  Pickett's  forces,  leaving 
New  Berne  at  noon,  the  6th,  could  not  have  reached  Peters 
burg  before  the  night  of  the  8th,  had  sufficient  transporta 
tion  been  at  their  command  ;  and  Gen'l  Beauregard,  with 
his  distance  and  the  devastating  work  of  Gen'l  Kautz,  at 
Stony  Creek,  must  have  been  considerable  later.  The 
movements  of  the  6th  and  7th  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of 
the  great  weakness  of  the  enemy  still  the  Army  of  the 
James,  with  its  thirty-four  thousand  men  and  able  command 
ers,  were  ordered,  for  ten  days,  to  dally  with  insignificant 
forces,  till,  gathering  strength  from  distant  fields,  the  enemy 
availed  themselves  of  the  delay,  and  "bottled  up"  our  entire 
force  within  the  prisons  of  Richmond,  or  the  narrow  confines 
of  Bermuda  Hundreds. 

We  append  so  much  of  Gen'l  Grant's  instructions  as  bear 
upon  the  movements  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  for  the 
information  of  our  readers. 

FORTRESS  MONROE,  VA.,  April  2,  1864. 

GENERAL  :  — .  .  .  You  will  collect  all  the  forces  from  your 
command  that  can  be  spared  from  garrison  duty  —  I  should  say 
not  less  than  twenty  thousand  effective  men  —  to  operate  on  the 
south  side  of  the  James  River,  Richmond  being  your  objective 
point.  To  the  force  you  already  have,  will  be  added  ten  thousand 
men  from  South  Carolina,  under  Maj.  Gen'l  Gillmore,  who  will  com 
mand  them  in  person.  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith  is  ordered  to 
report  to  3^011,  to  command  the  troops  sent  into  the  field  from  your 
own  department. 

Gen'l  Gillmore  will  be  ordered  to  report  to  you  at  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  with  all  the  troops  on  transports,  by  the  18th  instant,  or  as 
soon  thereafter  as  practicable.  Should  you  not  receive  notice  by 
that  time  to  move,  you  will  make  such  disposition  of  them  and 
your  other  forces,  as  you  may  deem  best  calculated  to  deceive  the 
enemy  as  to  the  real  move  to  be  made. 

When  you  are  notified  to  move,  take  City  Point  with  as  much 
force  as  possible.  Fortif}',  or,  rather,  intrench,  at  once,  and  con 
centrate  all  your  troops  for  the  field  as  rapidly  as  you  can.  From 


258  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

City  Point  directions  cannot  be  given,  at  this  time,  for  your  further 
movements. 

The  fact  that  has  already  been  stated  —  that  is,  that  Richmond 
is  to  be  your  objective  point,  and  that  there  is  to  be  co-operation 
between  your  force  and  the  "  Army  of  the  Potomac"  —  must  be 
your  guide.  This  indicates  the  necessity  of  j'our  holding  close  to 
the  south  bank  of  the  James  River  as  you  advance.  Then  should 
the  enemy  be  forced  into  his  intrenchments,  in  Richmond,  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  would  follow,  and,  by  means  of  transports, 
the  two  armies  would  become  a  unit. 

All  the  minor  details  of  your  advance  are  left  entirely  to  your 

direction 

U.  S.  GRANT,  Lieut.  Gen'l. 
Maj.  Gen'i  B.  F.  BUTLER. 

Sunday,  May  8th,  the  regiment  rested  in  camp,  funeral 
services  being  held  for  our  slain,  by  Chaplain  Woodworth. 
On  the  9th  a  general  movement  was  made,  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  again  in  advance,  with  Companies  E  and  I  as 
skirmishers.  On  reaching  the  battle-field,  Surgeon  Fish 
discovered  a  member  of  the  Forty- Eighth  New  York  Regi 
ment  who  had  been  wounded  severely,  the  7th  inst.,  and 
who,  being  left  by  his  comrades,  had  succeeded  in  hiding 
himself  in  the  underbrush.  Here  he  had  remained  two 
days  without  food  or  water,  unable  to  move,  surrounded  by 
the  enemy  and  by  forest  fires  which  had  burned  close  to  his 
hiding  place.  When  once  more  in  the  hands  of  friends,  the 
poor  fellow's  joy  knew  no  bounds.  It  was  a  keen  pleasure 
to  relieve  his  wants  and  attend  him  to  the  ambulance. 

Beau  regard  had  now  taken  command  of  the  rebel  forces, 
consisting  of  six  brigades  from  North  Carolina,  four  brigades 
from  Charleston,  S.  C.,  and  the  garrisons  and  reserves  of  the 
Richmond  and  Petersburg  fortifications.  The  demands  on 
Gen'l  Beauregard  required  the  division  of  his  force  for  the 
protection  of  Richmond,  on  the  north,  and  Petersburg,  on 
the  south  ;  our  position  cutting  bis  communication,  and  afford 
ing  opportunity  of  defeating  each  army  in  detail.  The  turn- 


BATTLE    OF   ARROWFIELD     CHURCH.  259 

pike  before  us  crossed  the  railroad  and  ran  due  south  through 
a  wooded,  undulating  country,  and  crossed  Bakehouse,  Swift 
and  Oldtown  Creeks,  before  reaching  Petersburg,  six  miles 
distant. 

After  a  short  rest  our  skirmishers  moved  down  this  turn 
pike,  cutting  their  way  through  tangled  underwood,  behind 
which  the  enemy,  with  skirmishers  and  artillery,  contested 
our  advance.  The  Twenty-Seventh  moved  forward  in  col 
umn  by  companies,  till  within  a  short  distance  of  Arrowfield 
Church,  when  the  stubborn  resistance  to  our  skirmishers 
necessitated  the  deploying  of  Company  B  for  their  assist 
ance.  Col.  Lee  now  formed  the  Twenty-Seventh  upon  the 
right  of  the  road,  with  orders  to  advance  as  rapidly  as  pos 
sible,  in  doing  which;  the  enemy  were  developed  in  consid 
erable  force  near  Arrowfield  Church,  and  a  hard  fight  at 
once  began.  Gen.  Hcckman  ordered  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass, 
to  the  left  of  the  road,  supported  by  the  Twenty-Third  Mass, 
and  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  to  the  support  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment,  when  we  again  attempted  to  advance, 
but  were  met  with  a  galling  fire  of  canister  and  musketrv. 

o  o  v 

Howard's  U.  S.  Battery  was  brought  into  position  upon  the 
turnpike  and  a  second  line  of  battle  formed  in  our  rear. 
An  earthwork  of  the  enemy  across  Swift  Creek  soon  placed 
Howard's  Battery  hors  de  combat,  and,  as  it  rushed  to  the 
rear,  caused  the  second  line  to  waver,  supposing  Heckman's 
Brigade  had  been  defeated.  Volley  upon  volley  came  in 
quick  succession  from  the  front,  and  cheer  upon  cheer 
through  the  thickets  of  brush,  as  the  contest  waged  nearer, 
each  assuring  them  that  Heckman's  Brigade  was  invincible 
still. 

We  were  face  to  face  with  Beauregard's  veteran  troops, 
with  the  inspiration  of  his  presence,  and  the  advantage  of 
position,  and  (as  we  afterward  found)  with  a  liberal  sup 
ply  of  liquor  to  incite  them  to  combat.  Strange  that  the 
enemy  were  so  long  in  learning  that  men  steeped  in  liquor 


2 GO  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

could  not  cope  with  courage  inspired  by  a  cool  head  and 
well-balanced  mind.  New  Berne  gave  evidence  of  the  same 
inordinate  use  of  liquor  previous  to  and  during  the  engage 
ment.  It  is  stated  on  good  authority  that  the  enemy  often 
mixed  gunpowder  with  the  liquor  to  increase  the  intoxica 
tion  to  frenzied  madness. 

For  an  hour  the  tide  of  battle  swept  the  field,  our  force 
slowly  closing  upon  the  enemy's  position.  Our  line  stood 
somewhat  like  a  V  across  the  turnpike,  the  right  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  well  advanced  in  a  scattering  growth  of 
pine,  while  the  left  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  was  also  advanced 
and  mostly  concealed  in  a  thicket  of  bushes.  Suddenly  "  a 
rebel  yell "  rose  above  the  din  of  conflict,  and  from  the  east 
of  the  road,  four  columns  deep,  came  Hagood's  South  Caro 
lina  Brigade,  at  double  quick,  -charging  directly  upon  us. 
It  was  a  grand  spectacle,  that  line  of  gray-clad  soldiers  in 
solid  column  charging  against  our  merciless  fire.  Yelling 
like  demons,  onward  they  came  with  a  courage  worthy  a 
nobler  cause,  and  deserving  a  better  fate.  If  Massachusetts 
has  reason  to  cherish  the  memory  of  her  victorious  sons 
upon  that  field,  no  less  has  South  Carolina  to  revere  the 
self-sacrifice  and  daring  of  her  defeated  troops. 

These  moments,  fraught  with  momentous  consequences, 
found  the  Star  Brigade  firm  and  reliant.  "  Steady,  men  ! 
Steady  !  Cease  firing  until  ordered  !  "  rang  along  our  line  ; 
and  as  a  grim  and  silent  wall  of  adamant  we  awaited  the 
shock.  At  twenty  yards  the  order,  "Fire!"  was  given, 
and  a  zigzag  flame  swept  along  the  line  upon  the  foe,  and 
with  the  second  volley,  the  charging  column  melted  into  a 
disorganized  mass  in  precipitate  retreat.  The  Ninth  New 
Jersey  in  our  rear  cheered  lustily  over  the  enemy's  defeat, 
and  started  to  charge ;  which  Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew's 
willing  spirit  construed  into  a  general  order,  and,  with  the 
left  wing  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment,  charged  upon 
the  enemy,  driving  them  from  the  field.  The  entire  force 


MUDSILLS    VERSUS    CHIVALRY.  261 

now  advanced,  and  as  Gen'l  Hecknum  came  up  to  Col. 
Bartholomew  he  good-naturedly  exclaimed,  "Colonel,  what 
are  you  doing  here?"  During  the  battle,  the  firing  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  had  been  so  rapid  that  Gen'l  Heckman  ex 
pressed  a  fear  we  were  wasting  ammunition,  and  Col.  Bar 
tholomew  now  replied,  "  General,  what  do  you  think  now 
about  the  Twenty-Seventh  wasting  ammunition?"  Gen'l 
Heckman  replied  —  patting  the  colonel  and  a  private  on  the 
shoulder —  "You've  done  well !  You've  done  well !  " 

The  whole  field  was  strewn  with  the  dead  and  dying,  forty- 
nine  dead  lying  on  a  space  sixty  by  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  while  one  company  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  South  Caro 
lina  Regiment  left  forty-two  of  its  number  upon  the  field. 
Hagood's  Brigade  consisted  of  the  Seventh,  Eleventh,  Twenty- 
First,  Twenty-Fifth  and  Twenty-Seventh  South  Carolina  regi 
ments,  and  the  last  two  were  pitted  against  the  same 
numbers  from  Massachusetts,  in  which  the  former  were  in- 
gloriously  defeated.  Mudsills  versus  chivalry !  Hunt's 
Battery  D,  Fourth  U.  S.  Artillery,  was  brought  into  posi 
tion,  covering  a  redoubt  across  Swift  Creek,  from  which  the 
enemy  were  shelling  the  ambulances  under  Surgeon  Fish. 
The  duel  lasted  till  sundown,  when  the  enemy's  battery  was 
silenced,  and  our  forces  were  left  in  victorious  possession  of 
the  field.  The  sad  work  of  ministering  to  the  wounded  and 
dead  was  continued  far  into  the  night,  Arrowfield  Church 
being  used  as  a  hospital.  Capt.  Leroy  Hammond  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  South  Carolina  Regiment  lay  mortally 
wounded  upon  the  field.  Finding  with  whom  he  had  con 
tended,  he  exclaimed,  "  That's  strange  !  South  Carolina  has 
met  and  been  defeated  by  her  most  hated  foe ; "  adding, 
"  We  were  assured  there  was  nothing  but  raw  recruits  from 
Massachusetts  in  front ;  had  we  known  you  were  veteran 
troops,  we  should  not  have  charged  ;  it  was  like  retribu 
tion." 

We  shall  not  soon  forget  the   surprise   with  which  the 


262  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

enemy  received  the  comforts  our  scanty  supplies  afforded, 
even  the  cup  of  cold  water  to  assuage  the  thirst  of  ebbing 
life.  As  Col.  Lee  stooped  over  a  dying  man,  and  bestowed 
such  attention  as  was  possible,  the  man,  with  an  effort,  said, 
< '  Our  —  officers  —  wouldn't  —  do  —  that ;  Colonels — don't — 
care  —  for  their  —  men."  The  night  was  cold  and  chill,  the 
church  and  grounds  resounding  with  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  dying,  while  the  sturdy  men  of  Heckman's 
Brigade  were  busy  gathering  and  relieving  a  foe,  who  but 
two  days  previous,  on  another  field,  had  neglected  our  com 
rades  and  permitted  their  bodies  to  be  mutilated  by  hogs. 
The  loss  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  in  this  engagement  was  : 

KILLED. 

Company  B.  —  Corp.  NATHANIEL  B.  TWITCHELL,  Athol,  shot 
through  the  head  ;  CHARLES  W.  WHEELER,  Jr.,  Greenfield,  shot  in 
the  breast ;  NELSON  Gr.  WOOD,  Athol,  shot  in  both  lungs  and 
abdomen. 

Company  G.  —  Corp.  RICHARD  CURRY,  Fall  River,  shot  in  the 
breast. 

Company  H.  —  LEVI  HOLDEN,  Haverhill. 

WOUNDED. 

Company  A.- — Frederick  Klisner,  Hatfield,  back,  slight ;  John 
M.  North,  Northampton,  head,  fatal. 

Company  B.  —  Sergt.  Daniel  W.  Larned,  Athol,  foot,  slight; 
Corp.  Horatio  W.  McClellan,  Athol,  thigh,  fatal;  Joseph  Biiggs, 
Leverett,  arm,  flesh  wound ;  George  Britton,  Erviug.  lost  finger ; 
Alvin  King,  Orange,  hand. 

Company  C.  —  Corp.  John  Shoals,  Amherst,  groin;  Aaron  A. 
Terry,  Orange,  fatal. 

Company  D.  —  Sergt.  Franklin  Elwell,  Hadley,  right  thigh, 
severe;  Corp.  George  A.  Griffin,  Pelham,  shoulder,  flesh  wound; 
Eugene  P.  Hervey,  Amherst,  face  ;  William  J.  Hopkins,  Amherst, 
a  bullet  in  right  eye,  destroying  the  e}-e  ;  Maxon  G.  Healey, 
Braintree. 

Company  E.  —  John  G.  Bickley,  Lee,  face  and  foot ;  Egbert 
Garfield,  Monterey,  abdomen. 


RETIRE    TO    COBB'S    HILL.  263 

Company  F.  —  Lieut.  Pliny  Wood,  Westfield,  left  thigh,  fatal; 
Bennett  Aldrich,  Southwick,  leg,  flesh  wound  ;  Lester  D.  Hanchett, 
Westfield,  thigh ;  Edwin  D.  Jones,  Blandford,  foot ;  Edwin 
Stevens,  Southwick,  thigh  fractured. 

Company  G.  —  John  W.  Whitcomb,  Blandford. 

Company  H.  —  Willard  A.  Thompson,  Bernardston,  Vt.,  groin. 

Company  I.  —  Seth  Brown,  Palmer,  leg,  slight ;  Solomon 
Bhodes,  Belchertown,  arm,  slight. 

Company  K.  —  Sergt.  John  Lambert,  Springfield,  shoulder, 
slight ;  Corp.  Charles  Geckler,  Springfield,  chest,  flesh  wound ; 
Maurice  Bishop,  Plainfield,  knee  and  abdomen,  fatal ;  Hervey  H. 
Converse,  Stockbridge,  leg,  flesh  wound  ;  James  Dimpsey,  Ware, 
left  leg,  flesh  wound ;  William  W.  Loomis,  Chester,  shoulder ; 
Jonathan  D.  Miller,  Springfield,  right  lung,  fatal. 

Total  loss  five  killed  and  thirty-two  wounded. 

At  the  close  of  the  engagement  Gen'l  Heckman  retired 
for  instructions,  leaving  the  brigade  under  command  of  Col. 
H.  C.  Lee.  The  night  passed  quietly  along  our  front,  but 
with  a  sharp  engagement  some  distance  to  the  right.  At 
ten  o'clock  the  10th,  orders  were  received  to  retire  and  we 
reached  Cobb's  Hill  late  in  the  afternoon  without  incident. 
A  body  of  the  enemy  massed  on  the  extreme  left  of  the 
Tenth  Corps,  as  they  retired,  resulting  in  a  sharp  engage 
ment,  lasting  several  hours.  At  the  close  of  this  engage 
ment,  Gen'l  Bushrod  Johnson  appeared  with  a  "flag  of 
truce,"  asking  for  permission  "  to  bury  their  dead  ;  "  for  an 
exchange  of  wounded  ;  and  for  a  general  exchange  of  prison 
ers.  To  this  Gen'l  Butler  replied  :  "  We  have  buried  your 
dead,  and  we  willingly  assent  to  an  exchange  of  the  wounded, 
but  we  cannot  agree  to  exchange  others,  until  you  consent 
to  acknowledge  colored  soldiers  as  prisoners  of  war."  To 
this  the  rebel  emissary  would  not  submit.  Insolence  and  bar 
barity  had  been  heaped  upon  the  unfortunate  black  captured 
in  Union  uniform  or  with  arms.  Many  had  been  reduced  to 
slavery,  or  with  "ball  and  chain"  forced  to  work  on  the 


264  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

enemy's  fortifications,  and  punished  with  instant  death  if 
they  refused.  In  a  time  of  grave  emergency,  their  fortunes 
and  resources  had  been  freely  offered  the  United  States 
government  as  active  allies  against  or  within  the  rebel  lines, 

O  C 

and  anything  short  of  this  decision  would  have  been  the 
basest  ingratitude.  Hard  as  it  bore  upon  white  prisoners  in 
rebel  hands,  and  terrible  as  its  consequences  were  to  our 
own  regiment,  there  was  no  other  honorable  course  open  to 
a  humane  government  in  behalf  of  those  who  wore  its  uni- 

O 

form . 

Of  those  who  fell  at  Arrowsfield  Church  there  was  one 
who  deserved  a  passing  notice. 

LIEUT.  PLINY  WOOD. 

Uncle  Pliny,  as  he  was  best  known,  enlisted  from  West- 
field  as  first  sergeant  of  Company  F.  He  was  promoted  to 
second  lieutenant  Jan.  2,  18G2,  and  first  lieutenant  May 
2,  1863.  Upon  the  organizatipn  of  the  Tenth  Mass.  Regt. 
he  was  chosen  as  first  lieutenant  by  the  Westfield  company, 
and  went  with  them  to  camp.  Governor  Andrew,  however, 
commissioned  another,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  company, 
many  of  whom  refused  to  muster  for  service.  The  town  of 
Westfield  justified  her  volunteers  in  this  protest,  and  held  an 
indignation  meeting  over  the  failure  to  commission  Lieu- 

o  o 

tenant  Wood. 

He  was  a  man  of  courage,  tact  and  good  humor,  and 
seemed  best  satisfied  when  engaged  in  active  service.  He 
was  wounded  severely  at  Roanoke  Island,  but  returned  to 
service,  running  the  enemy's  batteries  that  he  might  join 
his  regiment  then  under  siege  at  Washington,  N.  C.  With 
twenty  men  he  captured  an  equal  number  of  rebel  cavalry, 
with  their  horses,  arms  and  equipment,  above  Plymouth, 
N.  C.,  and  measured  strength  with  one  of  the  enemy  at  Gun 
Swamp,  bringing  his  foe  from  his  hiding  place  a  captive . 
At  the  time  he  received  his  fatal  wound,  he  was  with  his 


Captain  SHKRMAN  P.  COOI.KY,  Co.  F. 


Captain  EDWIN  L.   PECK,  Co.  F. 


Captain  CiiAKi.K.s  D.  SANDKORD,  C.'o.   H. 


Lieutenant  PLINY  WOOD,  Co.   F. 


Lieutenant  JAMKS  II.   FOWI.KR,  Co.  F 


LIEUT.    PLINY   WOOD.  265 

men  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray,  and,  as  he  fell,  said  calmly 
to  Capt.  Moore,  "They've  got  me,  Captain!"  The  ball 
pierced  his  left  thigh,  requiring  a  socket  amputation,  which 
proved  fatal  May  31st.  "Uncle  Pliny's "  commission  was 
no  bar  to  intimacy  and  sympathy  with  his  command,  for  he 
often  stood  between  the  shortcomings  of  his  men  and  their 
just  deserts.  Many  of  their  pranks  were  sworn  secrets  with 
him,  and  were  in  safe-keeping  so  long  as  the  record  of  the 
guilty  ones  was  otherwise  unexceptionable.  He  holds  a 
warm  place  in  the  memory  of  all  his  comrades. 

May  llth  the  regiment  remained  in  camp  at  Cobb's  Hill 
and  Gen'l  Heckman  improved  the  opportunity  to  issue  the 
following  congratulatory  order  :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  IST  BRIGADE  2o  DIVISION  ISrn  ARMY  CORPS. 

IN  THE  FIELD,  May  11,  1864. 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  24. 

The  General  commanding  takes  great  pleasure  in  returning  to 
the  gallant  officers  and  men  of  his  command  his  thanks  for  the 
noble  manner  in  which  they  have  discharged  their  duties  since  the 
opening  of  the  present  campaign.  The  enviable  reputation  which 
they  had  attained  has  been  sustained  in  a  noble  and  creditable 
manner ;  and  the  commanding  general  would  not  only  do  great 
injustice  to  his  feelings,  but  to  the  officers  and  men  of  his  com 
mand,  did  he  fail  to  notice  it.  The  fatigue  and  privation  suffered 
without  a  murmur  are  but  characteristic  of  the  brigade ;  and  the 
punishment  inflicted  upon  the  rebels  is  one  of  the  man}*  lessons  that 
will  ever  cause  them  to  remember  and  fear  the  Star  Brigade. 

By  command  of 

BRIG.  GEN'L  C.  A.  HECKMAN. 
W.  H.  ABELS,  A.  A.  G. 

During  the  day  Ezra  Baker  of  Company  D,  Amherst, 
received  a  severe  wound  in  the  knee  from  the  accidental  dis 
charge  of  a  musket. 

At  sunrise  the  12th,  the  entire  army  was  placed  in  motion, 
this  time  on  the  direct  line  to  Richmond.  An  hour  after,  the 


26G  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    KEGIMENT. 

rain  began  to  full  in  torrents,  continuing  almost  unremittingly 
till  the  night  of  the  15th.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment 
advanced  in  line  of  battle,  reaching  the  Richmond  turnpike 
about  nine  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  opened  upon  our  advance 
for  half  an  hour.  After  halting  until  one  o'clock,  P.M.,  we 
marched  some  distance  to  the  right,  and,  advancing  a  mile, 
skirmished  sharply  with  the  enemy  until  night,  when  they 
disappeared.  Drenched  to  the  skin,  we  bivouacked  in  the 
woods  with  such  shelter  from  the  rain  as  could  be  devised, 
our  position  commanding  a  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 
Before  us  was  a  marshy,  densely-timbered  region,  through 
which  flowed  Proctor's  and  Kingsland's  Creeks,  and,  high 
above  the  forests,  was  the  rebel  flag  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  three 
miles  distant. 

At  two  P.M.,  the  13th,  the  regiment  moved  to  the  left  and 
advanced  into  the  dripping  forests,  in  a  direct  line  for  Drew 
ry's  Bluff.  Our  skirmishers  sharply  engaged  the  enemy, 
closely  supported  by  the  regiment  in  line  of  battle,  through 
an  undulating  country,  interspersed  with  fine  plantations, 
swales,  and  thickets,  until  late  in  the  evening,  when  in  a 
bewildering  darkness,  Companies  C  and  F,  under  Capt. 
Moore,  were  advanced  as  pickets.  Early  the  14th  these 
companies,  as  sharpshooters,  with  sixty  rounds  of  ammuni 
tion,  advanced,  driving  the  enemy  through  the  woods  into 
a  field  covered  with  abattis,  to  within  three  hundred  yards 
of  Fort  Stevens,  where,  with  such  defences  as  the  abattis 
attbrded,  they  commenced  the  work  of  the  next  two  days. 
The  regiment  moved  to  their  support  under  a  sharp  artillery 
fire,  taking  position  under  cover  of  a  low  terrace  or  eleva 
tion,  near  the  edge  of  the  timber.  As  often  as  the  sharp 
shooters  exhausted  their  ammunition,  they  were  relieved, 
bringing  their  wounded  with  them.  The  14th  and  15th 
were  days  of  intense  excitement  and  of  ingenious  devices  to 
decoy  the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who,  like  ourselves,  were 
lying  behind  logs  or  stumps,  watching  for  some  luckless  head 


DESCRIPTION    OF    DREWRY's    BLUFF.  267 

to  peer  from  its  hiding  place.  A  shout  as  of  a  charge  or 
01  der  to  advance  is  given,  and  the  Johnnies'  heads  come  up 
to  see  the  expected  advance,  when  a  scattering  fire  lays 
many  of  them  low.  So  effectual  was  the  work  of  our  sharp 
shooters  that  the  enemy  at  Fort  Stevens  found  great  diffi 
culty  in  using  their  guns.  Hats  and  coats  were  raised  and 
mules  driven  upon  the  parapets  to  draw  our  fire,  when  the 
gunners  would  attempt  to  load  their  pieces,  but,  like  the 
donkey,  would  generally  perish  in  the  venture. 

Drewry's  Bluff  rises  abruptly  some  two  hundred  feet  from 
the  James  River,  which  here  runs  due  east,  but  changes 
sharply  to  the  south  at  Chapin's  Bluff,  two  miles  below.  On 
the  land  side  it  slopes  gradually  to  the  south  with  a  broken, 
undulating  surface;  the  forest  before  it  had  been  felled, 
forming  an  almost  insurmountable  abattis  against  approach, 
but  allowing  unobstructed  range  for  defence.  On  the  east 
ern  extremity  of  the  bluff  was  Fort  Darling,  a  formidable 
earthwork,  commanding  the  river  and  eastern  approach,  and 
supplied  with  the  most  approved  munitions  of  war.  Contig 
uous  to  this,  and  along  the  crest  of  the  bluff,  were  two  other 
strong  works,  guarded  by  a  deep  dry  ditch,  which  was 
swept  by  converging  guns.  Between  our  position  and  Fort 
Darling,  three  lines  of  rifle-pits  and  redoubts  skirted  the 
bluff;  and  northerly  from  the  fort,  along  the  river,  the  woods 
remained  standing,  affording  protection  and  secrecy  for 
movements  by  the  enemy.  The  whole  formed  a  Gibraltar, 
against  which  the  ponderous  guns  of  our  navy  had  vainly 
contended  and  which  was  destined  to  withstand  any  attack  of 
the  army. 

Gen'l  Butler  established  his  headquarters  at  Charles 
Friend's  house,  some  distance  to  the  rear,  but  convenient  of 
access  to  the  army.  After  three  days  of  skirmishing  and 
sharpshooting,  measured  in  part  by  the  expending  of  eighty 
thousand  cartridges  by  the  Twenty-Seventh,  and  a  loss  to  us 
of  twenty-seven  wounded,  orders  came,  Sunday  afternoon, 


268  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  15th,  relieving  and  ordering  us  to  the  extreme  right 
of  the  Army  of  the  James,  ostensibly  for  rest.  Exposure 
and  constant  service  at  the  head  of  the  column,  had  told 
severely  on  the  effective  strength  of  the  regiment  and  bri 
gade.  It  was  therefore  with  no  surprise  we  received  this 
order,  with  the  assurance  that  it  was  to  a  less  exposed  posi 
tion,  and  to  less  arduous  service.  With  lightened  hearts  we 
moved  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  at 
half  musket-range  fiom  the  enemy's  outworks,  the  right  of 
the  brigade  resting  across  the  Osborn  Pike,  which  led  directly 
up  the  bluff,  and  its  left  connecting  with  Wistar's  Brigade  of 
Weitzel's  Division. 

The  Star  Brigade  was  stationed  in  Gregory's  Woods,  with 
the  Ninth  New  Jersey  upon  the  right,  followed  in  order  by 
the  Twenty-Third,  Twenty-Seventh  and  Twenty-Fifth  Massa 
chusetts  Regiments.  The  Twenty-Third  Massachusetts,  with 
a  portion  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  held  position  along  a  cart- 
path  just  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  ;  while,  at  the  left  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  and  the  Twenty- Fifth,  the  road  fell  to  the 
rear,  and  their  line  followed  a  slight  ravine.  Fort  Darling, 
on  our  front,  was  a  mile  and  a  quarter  distant,  while  an 
emptied  ice-pond  lay  just  before  us,  and  an  unoccupied  space 
of  a  mile  and  a  half  between  our  brigade  and  the  James 
River.  As  soon  as  our  alignment  had  been  formed,  Genl 
Heckman  realized  the  exposed  position  assigned  to  us,  and, 
after  a  careful  survey,  reported  his  fears,  and  received  the 
assurance  that  the  space  between  us  and  the  James  should 
be  properly  occupied.  Col.  Drake,  at  Point  of  Rocks,  re 
ceived  orders  during  the  following  night  to  occupy  this 
position,  and  immediately  started  with  the  Ninth  Maine  and 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  New  York  Regiments,  but 
arrived  too  late  to  avert  the  impending  .disaster.  Nor  was 
our  brigade  commander  alone  in  his  apprehensions  of  danger ; 
every  man,  to  the  lowest  private,  realized  it,  and,  with  cups, 
plates  and  bayonets  for  spades,  commenced  the  construction 


Captain  PKTER  S    BAII.EY,  Co.   D. 


Captain  PARK   \V.   McMANUS,  Co.   B. 


Captain  TIMOTHY  W.  SLOAN,  Co.   D. 


Captain  J.   LEANUER  SKINNER,  Co.  I.  Captain  C.EOKGE  WARNER,  Co.  K. 


COMPANY   D    ON    TICKET.  269 

of  defences.  At  the  right  of  the  Twenty-Third  Regiment, 
and  some  five  hundred  yards  in  advance,  and  to  the  north  of 
the  road,  was  the  "  R.  A.  Willis  House,"  which  Capt.  Law 
rence  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  Regiment  captured,  and  occu 
pied  as  a  picket  station. 

Late  in  the  evening,  Capt.  Bailey,  with  Company  D,  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  reported  to  Lieut.  Col.  Stew 
art,  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  in  command  of  the  picket 
line,  and  was  ordered  to  take  position  on  the  right  of  the 
"  Willis  House,"  and  to  extend  his  line  to  a  given  distance, 
pressing  as  near  to  the  enemy  as  possible.  In  doing  this 
three  men  were  severely  wounded  by  a  previously  established 
line  of  the  Eighth  Maine,  at  the  rear.  After  some  difficulty, 
Capt.  Bailey  reached  the  Maine  regiment,  and  explained  who 
he  was,  and  by  whose  orders  there  ;  but  about  midnight  a 
volley  from  the  rebels  in  front  aroused  their  suspicions, 
leading  the  Maine  boys  to  again  fire  upon  our  company. 
During  the  night,  the  felling  of  trees  and  movement  of  artil 
lery  along  the  James  River,  was  plainly  heard  ;  but  an  incess 
ant  rattle  of  musketry  prevented  any  intelligent  knowledge  of 
the  enemy's  movements. 

The  space  from  our  right  to  the  river,  was  picketed  by  the 
Eighth  Maine  and  a  squadron  of  Cole's  negro  cavalry,  all  of 
whom  had  been  on  duty  forty-eight  hours  without  relief.  To 
entangle  and  delay  the  enemy  in  case  of  assault,  Gen'l  Smith 
suggested  that  wire  from  the  telegraph  lines  along  the  turn 
pike  be  interlaced  among  the  trees  on  his  front.  The  supply 
of  wire  had  been  exhausted  before  the  Star  Brigade  reached 
its  new  position,  and  hence  they  were  without  what  proved 
to  other  parts  of  the  line  a  valuable  means  of  defence.  Thus 
situated,  the  midnight  hour  ushered  in  our  "  dies  irce,"  a  day 
of  gloom,  disaster  and  death  for  many  of  our  regiment. 

We  append  so  much  of  Beauregard's  official  report  as  to 
show  his  plan  and  the  movements  made  against  our  position. 


270  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

[Extract  from  P.  T.  Beauregard's  Official  Report.] 

"  SWIFT  CREEK,  VA.,  June  10,  1864. 

"I  determined  .  .  .  that  our  left  wing,  turning 
and  hurled  upon  Butler's  weak  right,  should,  with  crushing  force, 
double  it  back  upon  its  centre,  thus  interposing  an  easterly  barrier 
between  Butler  and  his  base  ;  that  our  right  wing  should  simulta 
neously  with  its  skirmishers,  and  afterward  in  force,  as  soon  as  the 
left  became  fully  engaged,  advance,  and  occupy  the  enemy,  to  pre 
vent  his  reinforcing  his  right,  and  thus  check  him  in  front,  without, 
however,  prematurely  seeking  to  force  him  far  back,  before  our  left 
could  completely  outflank  him,  and  our  Petersburg  column  close  up 
on  his  rear;  finally,  that  the  Petersburg  column,  marching  to  the 
sound  of  heaviest  firing,  should  impose  a  southern  barrier  to  his 
retreat. 

"  Butler  thus  surrounded  by  three  lines  of  fire,  could  have  with  his 
defeated  troops  no  resource  against  capture  or  destruction  except 
in  an  attempt  at  partial  and  hazardous  escape,  westward,  away  from 
his  base,  his  train  and  supplies. 

"  Two  difficulties  ....  might  impede,  ....  one  was  a 
stubborn  and  effective  resistance,  ....  another  ....  the 

rapid    handling   of  a   fragmentary  army On   the   other 

hand,  I  reckoned  on  the  advantage  of  being  all  in  readiness  at  day 
break,  with  short  distances  on  which  to  operate  ;  a  long  day  before 
me  in  which  to  manoeuvre ;  direct  routes ;  and  simplicity  in  the 
movements  to  be  executed 

"Ransom  moved  at  4.45  A.  M His  division  consisted 

of  the  following  brigades,  in  the  order  named,  commencing  from 
the  left:  Gracie's,  Kemper's  (commanded  by  Col.  Terry),  Barton's 
(under  Col.  Fry),  and  Col.  Lewis  (Hoke's  old  brigade).  He  was 
soon  engaged  ....  capturing  five  stands  of  colors  and  some 
five  hundred  prisoners.  The  brigades  most  heavily  engaged  were 
Gracie's  and  Kemper's,  opposed  to  the  enemy's  right,  the  former 
turning  his  flank.  Gen'l  Ransom  then  halted,  to  form,  reported  his 
loss  heavy  and  tro  ps  scattered  by  the  fog,  his  ammunition  short, 
and  asked  for  a  brigade  from  the  reserve,  ....  and  re-formed  his 
lines  in  the  old  position,  near  the  lines  he  had  stormed.  Here  his 
infantry  rested  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  Donorant's  cavalry, 
dismounted,  being  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers  towards  a  small 


BATTLE    OF    DREWRY'S    BLUFF.  271 

ridge  on  the  edge  of  George  Gregory's  woods,  north  of  Proctor's 
Creek."    .... 

The  rain  had  ceased,  and  with  the  dawn  cnme  a  dense 
fog,  rendering  objects  a  few  feet  distant  undiscernible. 
Several  times  during  the  night,  the  Twenty-Seventh  had  been 
aroused  by  the  sharp  contests  of  our  pickets  in  front.  About 
half-past  four,  the  morning  of  the  Ifith,  while  Lieut.  Col. 
Bartholomew  was  inspecting  the  line,  the  air  was  suddenly 
rent  with  belching  guns,  and  the  field  illuminated  with  a 
glare  of  flame,  while  shrieking,  crashing  messengers  of  death 
gave  warning  that  our  hour  of  trial  had  come. 

Capt.  Bailey,  with  Company  D,  retired  before  the  ene 
my's  attack,  expecting,  by  falling  to  the  rear  of  the  brigade, 
to  be  able  to  join  his  regiment.  His  attention  was  attracted 
by  hearing  an  unusual  commotion  as  henearedthe  road,  and, 
halting  his  men,  he  heard  an  order  given  in  Confederate  dia 
lect.  This  revealed  to  him  the  character  of  the  force  before 
him  ;  but,  by  making  a  detour  towards  the  James  River, 
and  crossing  Proctor's  Creek  some  distance  to  the  rear,  he 
succeeded  in  eluding  them  and  in  saving  his  company,  ex 
cept  Samuel  A.  Chapin,  who  was  killed  by  a  shell.  From 
Proctor's  Creek  the  company  escorted  a  body  of  prisoners 
to  Bermuda  Hundreds,  and  reached  camp  at  Cobb's  Hill 
early  in  the  evening. 

Meantime,  the  enemy,  in  accordance  with  their  plan,  had 
massed  Oracle's,  Kemper's,  Hokes  and  Barton's  Brigades 
on  our  front,  and  had  charged  with  impetuosity,  but  were 
driven  back  by  the  merciless  fire  of  the  Star  Brigade.  The 
fog  materially  interfered  with  our  defence,  and  facilitated 
the  enemy's  movements,  by  permitting  them  to  approach  at 
close  range  unobserved.  Three  times  the  foe  charged  our 
position,  but  the  fire  from  our  lines  drove  them  back  to  their 
intrenchments.  The  rebel  yells,  the  thunderings  of  the  ar 
tillery,  the  crashing  of  shells,  and  falling  of  limbs  about  us, 
filled  the  air  with  wildest  confusion  ;  but  the  answer  of  Heck- 


272  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

man's  Brigade  was  an  incessant  roll  of  musketry.  Not  a 
man  thus  far  had  yielded  an  inch,  but,  firm  mid  resolute, 
awaited  the  assault,  without  fear  of  defeat ;  for,  not  a  regi 
ment  in  that  "  iron  brigade  "  had  ever  turned  their  backs  to 
the  enemy,  but  had  wrested  victory  from  every  field  of  con 
test. 

The  turning  of  our  right,  by  a  part  of  Gracie's  Brigade, 
necessitated  the  changing  of  front  by  the  Ninth  New  Jersey 
Regiment ;  but  the  officer  who  was  dispatched  to  inform 
us  of  the  movement  was  unfortunately  killed  en  route. 
Being  ignorant  of  any  disaster  to  our  column,  and  having 
been  the  third  regiment  in  line  from  the  right,  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  had  little  cause  to  fear  a  rear  or  flank  attack, 
without  timely  warning.  Just  as  we  were  giving  our  atten 
tion  to  another  charge  against  our  position  from  the  front, 
we  were  startled  by  a  volley  from  the  rear,  with  the  enemy 
close  upon  us,  yelling :  "  Lay  down  your  arms,  lay  down 
your  arms,  you  Yankee  devils  I" 

It  was  a  moment  of  intense  anxiety  for  men  who  had  never 
suffered  a  defeat ;  but,  with  cold  steel,  and  smoking  rifles 
front  and  rear,  there  was  little  encouragement  to  resist.  When 
our  defeat  became  evident,  it  was  impossible  to  control  the 
rank  and  file.  Some,  in  anger  and  chagrin,  struck  their  rifles 
across  trees  and  stumps,  bending  and  otherwise  rendering 
them  unserviceable  to  the  enemy.  Col.  Lee  was  beset  by  a 
burly  foe,  but  refused  to  surrender,  until  persuaded  by  a  re 
volver  at  his  head,  in  the  hand  of  a  rebel  adjutant.  Lieut. 
Col.  Bartholomew  when  last  seen  by  our  men  who  escaped, 
was  firing  his  revolver  at  the  line  advancing  from  the  rear. 
Lieut.  F.  C.  Wright,  of  Northampton,  barely  escaped ;  a 
musket  ball  spraining  his  ankle  and  tearing  the  heel  from  his 
boot.  Before  our  color  guards  were  aware  of  special  danger, 
the  ruthless  hands  of  rebels  had  grasped  the  standards.  Color- 
bearer  A.  A.  Gage,  of  Monson,  sought  to  save  the  "  Ladies' 
Flag"  by  tearing  it  from  the  standard,  when  a  rebel  officer 


LOSS   OF   OUR   COLORS.  273 

put  his  revolver  to  his  head,  saying :  "Tear  another  thread, 
and  I'll  blow  your  brains  out."  Manning  was  decidedly  bel 
ligerent  over  a  demand  for  the  State  colors  he  held,  while 
Sergt.  Dickinson  clung  to  the  United  States  flag  until  it 
was  wrested  from  him.  At  such  a  time  there  are  thousands 
of  acts  of  persona]  bravery  of  which  we  cannot  speak ;  suf 
fice  it  to  say,  many  of  our  men  were  repeatedly  captured  in 
attempts  at  escape,  while  some  turned  the  tables  by  leading 
their  captors  as  captives  into  the  Union  lines.  Humbling  as 
defeats  always  are,  there  was  nothing  in  this  affecting  our 
honor.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  were  ordered  to 
hold  this  position,  and,  in  doing  so,  presented  an  unbroken, 
immovable  front  to  the  enemy,  yielding  nothing  except  as 
compelled  by  inexorable  fate.  Companies  F,  E  and  K 
were,  in  the  order  named,  on  the  left  flank  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment ;  and,  seeing  the  enemy  closing  upon 
their  rear,  rushed  to  the  left  and  gave  the  alarm  to  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Capt.  John  W.  Moore,  the  senior  offi 
cer  of  our  regiment  present,  assumed  command  of  these 
companies,  and,  with  Lieuts.  Wright,  Newell,  and  Harring 
ton,  rallied  such  other  members  as  had  escaped,  and  was  en 
gaged  during  the  day,  as  flankers,  skirmishers,  and  in  support 
of  our  artillery.  By  uniting  with  the  Twenty-Fifth  Regiment, 
and  making  a  determined  fight,  these  companies  aided  in 
repelling  the  advance  of  the  victorious  foe,  thus  saving  the 
Army  of  the  James  from  a  worse  defeat.  At  five  o'clock, 
after  thirteen  hours  of  contest,  these  companies  were  relieved, 
and  wearily  dragged  their  way  to  Cobb's  Hill,  where  they 
arrived  an  hour  before  midnight.  Col.  Pickett,  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  assumed  command  of  the  Star 
Brigade  after  its  discomfiture,  and  we  append  so  much  of  his 
report  as  relates  to  our  escaped  companies  : — 

.  .  .  "At  this  juncture,  while  marching  my  regiment  through  the 
woods  to  the  rear,  I  was  informed  by  Capt.  W.  H.  Abels,  Act'g 
Adjt.  Gen'l  of  the  brigade,  that  Gen'l  Heckman  and  Col.  Lee  were 


274  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

both  reported  missing.  Being  senior  officer,  I  was  ordered  by  Gen'l 
Weitzel  to  assume  command,  collect  the  remnants  of  the  regiments, 
and  form  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle,  in  the  open  field,  in  the  rear 
of  the  woods.  The  brigade  was  then  ordered  by  Gen'l  Smith  to 
an  elevated  piece  of  ground  on  the  right,  in  order  to  check  the  fur 
ther  advance  of  the  enemy  on  our  right  flank.  Remaining  there 
about  an  hour,  the  brigade  was  ordered  by  Lieut.  Graves,  of  Gen'l 
Weitzel's  Staff,  to  move  at  double-quick  to  a  turnpike,  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear  of  which  we  supported  a  battery.  .  . 
About  five  o'clock  p.  M.  orders  were  received  to  withdraw  the  bri 
gade,  reaching  camp  about  nine  o'clock  p.  M.  .  .  .  The  total  loss 
of  the  brigade  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  from  the  12th  to  the 
16th,  is  six  hundred  and  ninety-three.  .  . 

' '  J.    PlCKETT, 

"  Col,  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Vols.,  Commanding  Brigade, 

"  Capt.  W.  H.  ABELS, 

"A.  A.  G.,  Second  Division,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps." 

Of  the  nine  hundred  and  eighty  men  captured  that  day, 
six  hundred  were  from  the  Star  Brigade,  and  two  hundred 
and  forty-nine  from  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  In 
two  ranks,  with  a  heavy  guard,  and  a  stalwart  rebel,  bearing 
our  three  flags,  leading  the  column,  our  captured  men 
marched  over  fields  strewn  thick  with  dead.  Over  the  clash 
of  arms  was  heard  the  agonizing  wail  of  the  wounded  and 
dying ;  and  when  the  prisoners  reached  the  bluff,  the  long 
rows  of  dead  and  wounded  lying  near  the  fort,  made  it  clear 
that  the  victory  over  our  slender  column  had  been  secured 
at  a  terrible  cost.  The  captives  were  marched  down  the 
steep  embankment  of  the  bluff  to  a  steamer,  and  by  nine 
o'clock  were  in  Richmond,  the  butt  of  jests,  and  a  gazing- 
stock  to  the  curious.  They  were  immediately  marched  to 
Libby  Prison,  where  the  officers  were  confined  in  the  third, 
and  the  men  in  the  second  story  of  that  famous  gaol. 

With  a  single  attjpiuated  line,  the  Union  forces  had  envel 
oped  those  of  the  enemy.  The  advantage  of  position,  with 
short  distances,  and  direct  routes,  were  entirely  in  our  ene- 


DISASTROUS   LOSS    TO   THE    ENEMT.  275 

v 

my's  favor,  while  it  is  probable  their  effective  strength  was 
nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  Union  forces  present  upon  the 
field.  Our  line  was  not  unlike  that  at  Cemetery  Ridge,  at 
Gettysburg,  with  the  armies  reversed,  of  which  Gen'l 
Doubleday  says  :  "  History  furnishes  few  instances  in  which 
forces  assailing  such  a  position  are  not  disastrously  defeated 
unless  supported  by  a  large  preponderating  force."  The  Star 
Brigade,  with  a  prophetic  knowledge  of  the  enemy's  plan, 
had  warned  the  commanding  general  of  the  exposed  condi 
tion  of  our  right.  To  remedy  this  defect,  two  regiments 
were  ordered  to  occupy  a  front  which  would  have  required  a 
division  to  hold  it,  and  these  regiments  failed  to  arrive  until 
after  the  disaster  had  fallen  upon  our  men. 

The  enemy's  attack  was  made  substantially  as  planned  in 
Beauregard's  report,  but  failed  in  realizing  his  sanguine  ex 
pectation  at  a  point  where  the  execution  of  the  plan  would 
have  proved  his  ruin.  Ransom's  forces  were  so  demoralized 
by  their  attack  upon  our  brigade  as  to  have  been  useless 
for  the  rest  of  the  day,  as  admitted  by  Beauregard's  report. 
As  to  this  contest,  C.  T.  Locher,  of  the  First  Virginia 
(Kemper's  Brigade)  writes  :  "  I  do  not  think  it  was  an  easy 
victory.  The  fire  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  in  response 
to  the  first  call  to  surrender,  killed  eight  of  the  First  Vir 
ginia.  Terry's  (Kemper's)  Brigade,  next  to  Grade's,  lost 
three  hundred  and  fourteen  killed  and  wounded,  out  of  one 
thousand  men  in  the  assault,  and  Barton's  Brigade,  next  to 
Terry,  lost  nearly  as  many." 

The  First  and  Seventh  Virginia  Regiments  of  Kemper's 
Brigade,  had  attacked  us  in  the  rear,  while  the  Forty-Third 
and  Fifty-Ninth  Alabama  Regiments  of  Grade's  Brigade, 
and  the  Twenty-Fourth  and  Eleventh  Virginia  Regiments  of 
Kemper's  Brigade,  were  assailing  us  in  front.  The  colonel 
of  the  Forty-Third  Alabama,  and  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Twenty-Fourth  Virginia  Regiments,  were  killed  ;  and  the  colo 
nel  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Virginia,  and  colonel  and  adjutant 


276  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

of  the  Fifty-Ninth  Alabama  Regiments,  with  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  Sixtieth  Alabama,  were  severely  wounded. 
The  Foity-Third  and  Fifty-Ninth  Alabama  Regiments  were 
completely  demoralized  by  the  terrific  fire,  as  were  also  the 
Eleventh  and  Twenty-Fourth  Virginia  Regiments.  Terry's 
(Kemper's),  Barton's  and  Lewis'  (Hoke's)  Brigades,  made 
up  Pickett's  Division  when  they  made  that  famous  charge 
at  Gettysburg,  July  3,  18(53.  Lieut.  Col.  Cabell,  of  the 
Thirty-Eighth  Virginia,  was  the  only  field  officer  of  that 
Division  who  walked  ofl'  that  fatal  field,  and  he  fell  dead 
this  morning,  as  Barton's  Brigade  moved  upon  the  Union 
line.  Mr.  Locher,  historian  of  Kemper's  Brigade,  gives 
their  loss  that  morning  as  fifty-five  killed  and  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty-nine  wounded  ;  and  adds,  that  of  Grade's 
and  Barton's  Brigades,  must  have  been  equally  great. 
As  these  facts  are  all  obtained  from  Confederate  sources, 
they  may  be  considered  reliable,  and  show  most  vividly 
the  desperate  fight  made  by  our  men  to  defend  their 
position. 

As  to  this  conflict,  we  present  the  opinion  of  some  of  those 
present  during  the  day.  Brig.  Gen'l  Weitzel,  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  Army  of  the  James,  said,  "  I  never  knew  a  better  offi 
cer,  or  a  better  fighter  than  Heckman,  either  in  the  regular  or 
volunteer  service."  The  "  New  York  Herald's"  correspon 
dent,  under  date  of  May  19, 1864,  wrote,  "  The  brigade  main 
tained  its  splendid  reputation,  and  for  an  hour  resisted  the 
enemy  on  all  sides,  and  covered  the  field  with  dead  and 
wounded  rebels.  The  enemy  charged  upon  them  in  over 
powering  numbers,  and  the  iron  men  who  had  stood  the  brunt 
of  batrtle  for  ten  days,  were  driven  from  the  field."  The 
"New  York  Tribune  "  correspondent,  detailing  the  action, 
mentions  the  rumor  of  our  capture,  but  adds,  "  We  very 
much  doubt  the  truthfulness  of  this  rumor,  as  Heckman's 
fighting  brigade  has  always  proved  itself  more  than  a  match  for 
the  enemy."  The  correspondent  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps 


WHAT   THE    ENEMY    SAY.  277 

wrote  :  "  It  was  a  great  mistake  to  have  put  men  jaded  by  con 
stant  service,  in  that  position,  and  especially  Heckman's 
Brigade,  which  has  been  in  constant  service,  and  always  in 
the  advance,  from  the  very  moment  of  landing,  up  to  the 
time  of  the  attack."  Capt.  E.  K.  Wilcox  of  Company  I, 
who  was  aide-de-camp  on  Gen'l  Weitzel's  staff,  wrote  :  "  The 
hardest  fight  I  ever  was  in  happened  yesterday."  Two 
deserters  from  the  Eighteenth  Georgia  Regiment,  said,  "We 
could  walk  on  bodies  from  our  works  to  your  position  after 
the  wounded  were  removed."  Charles  Weed,  of  Company 
E,  Twenty- Seventh  Mass.,  who  was  wounded  and  lay  upon 
the  field  until  noon,  says:  "  When  I  was  carried  through 
the  field  to  the  rebel  works,  the  wounded  had  been  removed 
and  laid  in  long  winrows  around  the  fort,  while  the  field 
was  covered  with  their  dead." 

C.  T.  Locher,  the  historian  of  Kemper's  (rebel)  Brigade 
(composed  of  the  First,  Third,  Seventh,  Eleventh  and 
Twenty-Fourth  Virginia  Regiments),  writes,  under  date 
of  Sept.  28,  1882:- 

"  The  First  Virginia  carried  your  lines  where  the  stage  road 
enters.  After  passing  about  one  hundred  yards  down  this  road, 
finding  nothing  in  our  front,  and  hearing  the  firing  to  our  right  and 
rear,  we  turned  towards  that  direction,  coming  across  where  the 
coffee  was  temptingly  boiling.  We  stopped  awhile  and  took  some. 
That  it  was  good  I  can  testify.  It  was  a  rare  treat  to  us.  After 
leaving  the  coffee-pots  we  struck  a  line  of  men  marked  A  (see 
sketch  of  field  of  Drewry's  Bluff),  who,  after  some  talk,  dropped 
their  guns  without  firing.  Meanwhile,  the  left  of  our  regiment 
drew  the  attention  of  those  further  in  their  front,  and  lower  down, 
marked  B,  who  called,  "What  regiment  is  that?  Our  reply,  The 
First  Virginia !  was  answered  by  a  shotted  salute,  killing  eight 
and  wounding  scores  of  our  men.  J.  B.  Angle,  one  of  our  men, 
saw  Gen'l  Heckman  surrender  to  Col.  Flouree  of  the  Seventh 
Virginia." 

This  letter  is  corroborated  by  Col.  Sandford  and  Lieut. 
Col.  Troy  of  the  Sixtieth  Alabama,  and  Adjutant  Hall  of  the 


278  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Fifty-Ninth  Alabama,  of  Grade's  Brigade.  Cols.  Sandford 
and  Troy  say,  "  They  came  up  with  many  misgivings  be 
cause  they  thought  there  was  a  battery  there,"  as  there  was 
(Belger's)  the  night  before.  The  firing  at  four  o'clock,  the 
15th  of  May,  was  to  feel  out  our  lines,  and  they  found  out 
where  they  ended,  then;  but  as  our  brigade  moved  farther 
towards  the  James  during  the  night,  where  Beauregard 
counted  on  nothing,  he  found  something. 

Thus  closed  the  day  upon  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt., 
but  its  shattered  ranks  returned  to  camp,  "Not  like 
the  quarry  slave  at  night,  scourged  to  his  dungeon,"  for  they 
had  done  all  that  courage  and  manhood  could  do.  Still,  mis 
fortune  has  its  cruel  thrusts,  and  the  deserted  quarters  of  our 
comrades  were  forcible  reminders  of  the  loss  we  had  sus 
tained.  We  report  in  detail  the  losses  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  at  Drewry's  Bluff. 

KILLED. 

Capt.  CHARLES  D.  SANDFORD,  North  Adams ;  shot  through 
head. 

SAMUEL  A.  CHAPIN,  Company  D,  Granby  ;  shell ;  bead. 

WILLIAM  M.  TYMESON,  Company  E,  Monterey. 

Sergt.  JOSEPH  W.  ROBERTS,  Company  F,  Granville. 

JOSEPH  DOYLE,  Compan}7  F,  Springfield. 

FRANKLIN  M.  HIBBERT,  Company  F,  Tolland. 

LUTHER  P.  VAILLE,  Company  F,  Tolland. 

CHARLES  H.  SEARLE,  Company  F,  Southampton. 

ROBERT  H.  MACAULEY,  Company  H,  Becket. 

RICHARD  CAMPBELL.  Company  K,  Springfield ;  through  breast. 

WOUNDED. 

Lieut.  Frederick  C.  Wright,  Northampton  ;  heel. 
Lieut.  Sherman  P.  Coolej',  Granville,  left  arm  and  side. 

Company  A. 

James  Adams,  Williamsburg ;  finger  amputated.  Hiram  A. 
Beach,  Huntington ;  thumb  and  ankle.  Edward  L.  Lewis,  North 
ampton  ;  fingers. 


WOUNDED    AT    DREWRY'S    BLUFF.  279 

Company  B. 

Milton  N.  Jillson,  Athol ;  neck  and  right  shoulder.  Aaron 
Oliver,  Athol ;  bayonet  wound,  foot.  Ebenezer  Winslow,  Wen 
dell  ;  right  foot. 

Company  C. 

Sergt.  Francis  D.  Aveiy,  Charlemont ;  left  arm  and  side. 
James  J.  P.  Davis,  Sandisfield  ;  thigh,  amputated.  Orrin  Jones, 
Deerfield ;  left  foot.  Jesse  D.  Comstock,  Cummington,  right 
thigh.  Henry  H.  Johnson,  Northfield  ;  left  lung,  fatal. 

Company  D. 

James  W.  Spear,  Amherst ;  left  thigh,  amputated,  fatal.  Nathan 
iel  F.  Mauley,  Springfield  ;  both  legs,  fatal.  Charles  B.  Spauld- 
ing,  Amherst;  left  arm.  Lucius  D.  Smith,  Hadley ;  right  knee. 
Josiah  Wood,  New  Bedford  ;  arm,  amputated.  Charles  R.  Collins, 
Chicopee ;  slight. 

Company  E. 

Sergt.  Charles  H.  Bligh,  Pittsfield ;  right  shoulder.  Samuel  S. 
Chapman.  Lee  ;  left  knee,  amputated.  Daniel  F.  Andrews,  Great 
Barrington ;  head.  Joseph  Dwyer,  Hinsdale ;  hand.  Benjamin 
W.  F.  Smith,  Great  Barrington  ;  ear.  Dennis  O'Connor,  Pitts- 
field  ;  slight.  Lewis  Tatro,  Douglas ;  knee  amputated.  Charles 
Weed,  Pittsfield  ;  both  legs  and  groin.  James  Williams,  Pitts- 
field  ;  side,  fatal.  Jonas  Scott,  Great  Barrington ;  fatal. 

Company  F. 

Sergt.  Chauncey  Holcomb,  Westfield  ;  fatal.  Sergt.  George  W. 
Cone,  Westfield  ;  arm,  slight.  Corp.  Nathan  B.  Pomeroy,  West- 
field  ;  breast,  left  arm,  amputated.  Hiram  H.  Weiser,  Westfield  ; 
face,  left  side.  Howard  E.  Cornwell,  Southwick ;  right  arm. 
Walter  R.  Madison,  Westfield  ;  right  arm.  Reuben  A.  Richards, 
Springfield  ;  right  thumb.  Vernou  D.  Austin,  Southampton  ;  right 
hand.  Frank  W.  Chamberlin,  Westfield ;  slight.  George  E. 
Clark,  Springfield  ;  left  arm,  contusion.  Patrick  Coughlin,  Ches 
ter  ;  thigh.  John  Dorflin,  Westfield  ;  fatal.  William  A.  Moody, 
Westfield ;  leg.  Henry  W.  Soule,  Tolland  ;  slight.  Henry  H. 
Underwood,  Sandisfield ;  right  side,  contusion.  Peter  Wilson, 
Southwick  ;  slight. 


280  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   EEGIMENT. 

Company  H. 

Sergt.  Francis  E.  Weil ;  right  lung,  fatal.  Corp.  Horace  A. 
Loomis ;  right  foot.  Charles  A.  Odell ;  finger.  Charles  W. 
Coon  ;  left  foot.  Nelson  A.  Randall ;  finger.  Casper  J.  Heis- 
ler ;  fatal. 

Company  I. 
Lucian  J.  Erwin,  Brimfield. 

Company  K. 

Jerome  E.  Smith,  Groton  ;  left  arm,  flesh  wound.  John  Wood 
ward,  Springfield  ;  right  thigh,  slight. 

PRISONERS. 

Col.  H.  C.  Lee. 

Lieut.  Col.  W.  G.  Bartholomew. 

Capt.  R.  Ripley  Swift. 

Lieuts.  Joseph  H.  Nutting,  P.  W.  McManus,  J.  Leander 
Skinner,  John  H.  Judd,  Justus  Lyman,  William  G.  Davis. 
Total,  9. 

Company  A. 

Sergts.  Henry  Dickinson,  Abel  C.  Kenney. 

Corpls.  Alvin  W.  Clark,  Edmund  T.  Drake,  Sylvester  S.  Hooper, 
Nelson  H.  Kingsle}*,  Frederick  Frey. 

Privates  Lyman  B.  Abbott,  Richard  B.  Abbott,  Frank  Alvord, 
Henry  Anthony,  William  H.  Bartlett,  Thomas  Bolton,  Thomas  C. 
Brad}7,  Henry  Braman,  Edgar  C.  Brewster,  John  Buchanan,  Oliver 
A.  Clark,  John  Donovan,  Calvin  C.  Hosford,  Frederick  Klisner, 
Ed.  L.  Lewis,  John  McCaffrey,  Albert  Meir,  Patrick  Murphy, 
Richard  Raftis,  Rufus  C.  Robinson,  Francis  G.  Russell,  Warren  E. 
Russell,  Andrew  J.  Shaw,  Thomas  F.  Smith,  Charles  A.  Spencer, 
Ezra  O.  Spooner,  Morris  Stark,  Frederick  P.  Stone,  James  F. 
Thayer,  Emerson  W.  Torrey,  Caleb  F.  Tufts.  Total,  38. 

Company  B, 

Sergts.  Mark  Rankin,  Levi  Bosworth,  Henry  H.  Bush,  Charles 
Gray. 

Corpls.  John  Bolles,  William  P.  Huntoon,  William  H.  Pierce, 
John  W.  Brizzee. 


CAPTURED    AT   DREWRY's    BLUFF.  281 

Privates  James  II.  Allen,  David  Blair,  Hiram  Blair,  John  T.  Bliss, 
Joseph  Brace  well.  Jr.,  James  L.  Bragdon,  Charles  Davis,  William 
N.  Dexter,  George  S.  Dresser,  John  M.  Dodge,  Theo.  E.  Galer, 
Grosvenor  Hollenbeck,  John  W.  Howe,  Reuben  Hnntoon,  Norris 
B.  Meacham,  James  Miller,  S3Tlvanus  E.  Oliver,  James  H.  Rich 
ardson,  Samuel  Rich,  Asa  Tilden,  Charles  E.  Wright,  Wesley  A. 
Woodward.  Total,  30. 

Company  C. 

Sergts.  Alfred  D.  Burdeck,  Bartholomew  O'Connell. 

Corpls.  Francis  A.  Loveland,  John  Manning,  Levi  Brizzee, 
Elijah  Carter,  Samuel  Woffenden. 

Privates  Oscar  C.  Britt,  Daniel  E.  Ball,  George  W.  Bradburn, 
Joseph  W.  Blair,  John  Callighan,  Lewis  A.  Drury,  Chaunce}r  L. 
Emmons,  William  R.  Elder,  John  Fitzgerald,  William  Farrell, 
Charles  W.  Harvey,  George  Hunter,  James  C.  Hitchcock,  William 
Hazard,  Charles  T.  Howard,  Martin  L.  Jones,  Frank  W.  Jones, 
Peter  Le  Clair,  Oscar  M.  Loomis,  Hart  E.  Mowry,  Patrick  Mur 
phy,  Mahlon  M.  Merritt,  Joseph  Nadeaux,  James  H.  Pratt,  Mer- 
rick  A.  Packard,  Mayhew  M.  Phipps,  Brigham  S.  Ripley,  Joseph 
Richards,  Isaac  Spooner,  Gilbert  D.  Streeter,  John  W.  Woffenden, 
Andrew  M.  Witherell,  Merritt  E.  Wright,  George  W.  Taylor. 
Total,  41. 

Company  D. 

Corp.  Josiah  Wood  * 

Privates  Charles  R.  Collins,  Ezra  Kelsey,  Charles  A.  Smith. 
Total,  4. 

Company  E. 

Sergts.  William  H.  Monnier,  Otto  L.  Stamm. 

Corp.  Eldad  E.  Moore. 

Privates  Hugh  Dolan,  Dennis  O'Connor,*  Jonas  Scott,*  Lewis 
Tatro,*  Charles  Weed,*  James  Williams.*  Total,  9. 

Company  F. 

Sergt.  Chauncey  Holcomb.* 

Privates  Martin  Arrenz,  Milo  H.  Coole}%  Frank  W.  Chamber- 
lin,*  John  Dorflin,*  John  W.  Gibbs,  Chauncey  P .  Howe,  Seth 
Liswell,  William  A.  Moody,*  Charles  W.  Roberts.  Total,  10. 

*  Wounded  also. 


282  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Company  G. 

Sergts.  William  Q.  Wight,  Andrew  J.  Dunham. 

Corp.  Stanley  Howard. 

Privates  George  A.  Boice,  Michael  Cavanangh,  Richard  Curtis, 
Patrick  Gleason,  Edward  G-.  Kellogg,  Michael  Lyons,  Patrick 
Murray,  William  W.  Patridge,  Charles  Pratt,  Patrick  Riley, 
Edwin  Smith,  Michael  Splaine,  Charles  Williams,  Eleazer  Wilbur. 

Total,  17. 

Company  II. 

Sergts.  Joseph  Ainle}7,  Alexander  G.  Harrington. 

Corpls.  Irving  R.  Clark,  Thomas  Hare,  Christopher  Reagan, 
Henry  Remington,  Jr. 

Privates  John  W.  Allen,  Harvey  E.  Bassett,  William  P.  Bracy, 
Edward  P.  Clark,  Charles  A.  Como,  Wardrop  Davidson,  James 
Donlan,  Sidney  T.  Estes,  Casper  J.  Heisler,*  Sylvester  Kent, 
Andrew  Lace}',  Charles  A.  Lyman,  George  McGue,  Samuel  L. 
Montague,  Charles  H.  Morgan,  Emory  P.  Morton,  James  Parker, 
Royal  H.  Plumb,  Charles  L.  Spooner,  Henry  C.  Terry,  James 
M.  Thompson,  Albert  Whiting.  Total,  28. 

Company  L 

Sergts.  Charles  J.  Osborn,  Abram  Childs,  George  W.  Hobart. 

Corpls.  Alvin  A.  Gage,  William  W.  Halin,  Austin  Jennison, 
Henry  H.  Pepper,  James  E.  Perry. 

Privates  Horace  H.  Acres,  Hiram  W.  Aldrich,  Perez  Blackmer, 
Robert  B.  W.  Bliss,  Joseph  E.  Boynton,  Henry  Busha,  Lucius 
Brown,  Augustus  L.  Chapman,  Stephen  Clark,  John  Coash,  Albert 
Cullins,  Charles  S.  Coleman,  Caleb  Crowuingshield,  James  K. 
Crosby,  James  Crosby,  William  H.  Davy,  George  II.  Dimick, 
Thomas  Finnert}-,  Lucian  J.  Erwin,*  John  J.  Flaherty,  John  K. 
Fuller,  C.  J.  Glover,  Elmer  Jewett,  Almon  Laide,  Ebenezer  Lyon, 
Michael  McKinney,  Richard  McNary,  Alex.  B.  Murdock,  Lyman 
E.  Needham,  Stephen  O'Halloran,  John  P.  Pepper,  Silas  H. 
Phelps,  Daniel  Pratt,  Flavius  J.  Putnam,  Solomon  Rhodes,  John 
Sullivan,  George  H.  Walls,  William  E.  Washburn,  John  Whitney. 

Total,  47. 

Company  K. 

Sergts.  John  W.  Bartlett,  Parsons  M.  Ault,  Edwin  P.  Grover. 
Corpls.  Erastus  Innman,  Frederick  Kurtz. 

*  Wounded  also. 


CAPT.    CHAS.    D.    SANDFORD.  283 

Privates  Thomas  C.  Allis,  Joseph  Day,  Elisha  J.  Griggs,  Carl 
N.  Lippman,  John  McDonough,  Robert  McDonald,  John  Mc- 
Grath,  Edward  P.  Meacham,  William  O'Brien,  John  Tucker. 
Total,  15. 

Our  casualties  before  Drewry's  Bluff  were  ten  killed, 
fifty-five  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  prison 
ers.  Of  the  prisoners,  twelve  were  wounded,  and  appear  in 
'that  list  also,  so  that  our  total  loss  was  three  hundred  and 
one  men.  The  companies  held  the  following  position  in 
regimental  line  of  battle,  D  being  absent :  — 

[Right.]        H,      A,      I,      C,      B,      G,      K,      E,     F.    [Left.] 

[Prisoners.]      28  38          47         41          30          17  15  9  10 

This  view  of  their  position,  in  connection  with  the  narra 
tive,  will  show  why  certain  companies  lost  so  largely  in 
prisoners.  Our  total  casualties  for  ten  days  since  landing 
at  Bermuda  Hundreds,  was  sixteen  killed,  one  hundred  and 
nine  wounded,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  prisoners, 
an  aggregate  loss  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-one  men.  The 
effective  strength  of  the  regiment  had  been  farther  reduced 
since  landing  by  detaching  upwards  of  one  hundred  men, 
for  pioneer,  ambulance  and  other  special  duty ;  while  large 
numbers  had  broken  down  under  the  severe  strain,  and  were 
sick  at  camp  or  in  the  hospitals. 

Were  it  possible,  we  would  gladly  record  the  courage  and 
sacrifices  of  all  who  fell  on  that  fatal  morning,  but  we  must 
intrust  their  memories  to  a  grateful  people. 

There  was  one  who  fell  whom  we  must  mention,  for  not 
to  do  so  would  rob  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  of  the 
record  of  one  of  its  bravest  and  most  accomplished  officers. 

CAPT.   CHARLES  D.  SANDFORD. 

Charles  Durand  Sandford,  son  of  our  first  chaplain,  Kev. 
Miles  Sandford,  was  born  inPontiac,  Mich.,  March  20,  1840, 
from  which  place  he  moved  successively  to  Detroit,  Chicago, 


284          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Boston  and  North  Adams.  He  was  fitted  for  college  by  his 
mother,  and  graduated  at  Williams  College  in  1858,  at  eigh 
teen  years  of  age,  and  three  years  later  from  Albany  Law 
University.  Fired  by  the  national  insult  at  Fort  Sumter, 
he  returned  to  North  Adams,  and  enlisted  a  company,  his 
name  heading  the  list.  He  was  commissioned  first  lieuten 
ant  Oct.  16,  1861,  and  promoted  captain  Dec.  7,  1861,  in 
Company  H  From  first  to  last  he  was  intrepid,  zealous, 
intelligent  and  discreet,  and  his  acts  a  heritage  of  lustre  and 
fame  to  the  regiment.  Capt.  Sandford  was  present  in  every 
action  of  the  regiment  until  his  death,  save  the  siege  of  Lit 
tle  Washington,  at  which  time  he  was  at  Plymouth.  He  had 
several  engagements  with  the  enemy  with  forces  under  his 
special  command,  notably:  Gum  Swamp,  June  28,  1862; 
Core  Creek,  Sept.  30,  1862  ;  and  Rocky  Hock  Creek,  March 
23,  1863, — in  all  of  which  engagements  he  signally  defeated 
the  enemj7.  He  was  judge  advocate  during  the  summer  and 
fall  of  1862,  and  provost  marshal  of  New  Berne  from  June 
to  November,  1863,  when,  by  his  own  request,  he  was  re 
lieved,  that  he  might  share  with  his  men  their  hardships, 
dangers  and  victories. 

On  account  of  our  exposed  situation,  Capt.  Sandford 
was  accorded  the  position  of  honor  at  the  right  of  the  regi 
ment,  before  Drewry's  Bluff,  May  15,  1864,  and  during  the 
attack  of  the  16th  magnetized  his  men  with  his  invincible 
spirit.  For  an  hour  he  stood  with  them,  using  his  revolver, 
until,  as  the  enemy  charged  the  last  time,  he  shouted, 
"Stand  to  the  rack,  boys;  don't  flinch!"  when  a  Minie 
ball  pierced  his  forehead,  traversed  his  brain,  and  escaped 
near  the  centre  of  the  back  of  his  head.  He  fell  across  the 
rifle  of  one  of  his  men  just  in  the  act  of  firing,  and  came 
heavily  to  the  ground  upon  his  face.  He  was  a  worthy  son 
of  his  Alma  Mater,  of  indomitable  energy,  finished  and 
comprehensive  scholarship,  manliness  and  docility  of  charac 
ter,  magnanimity  and  sympathy  of  heart.  With  a  wonder- 


THE    JAMES    RIVER    CAMPAIGN.  285 

ful  memory,  his  knowledge  of  fact  and  detail  made  him  an 
encyclopedia  of  reference,  rarely  in  error.  His  whole 
hearted  consecration  to  his  country  only  increased  his  love 
for  literature,  wrhich  was  insatiable.  Capt.  Sandford  was  a 
Christian,  too,  of  unostentatious,  retiring  piety,  yet  of  such 
firm  convictions  as  to  give  him  decision  of  character  and 
purpose.  The  North  Adams  Post  No.  79,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  has  the  honor  to  bear  his  name. 

Of  the  movements  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  Gen'l  But 
ler  writes  the  author,  under  date  of  June  26,  1882  :  — 

.  .  .  .  "  The  plan  of  the  campaign  was  agreed  upon  be 
tween  Gen'l  Grant  and  myself  at  Fortress  Monroe,  substantially, 
that  with  my  forces  organized  as  the  Arm}'  of  the  James,  1  was  to 
move  on  City  Point,  and  take  possession  of  Bermuda  Hundreds, 
and  fortify  it  so  as  to  be  able  to  hold  it  in  case  of  disaster,  and  then 
march  upon  and  throw  my  forces  around  Richmond  on  the  south 
bank  of  the  river,  forming  a  junction  with  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  which  was  to  drive  Lee  into  Richmond,  and  thus  scoop  Lee 
and  Richmond  out  of  the  Confederacy.  My  march  to  City  Point 
was  to  be  a  surprise,  and  it  was  a  surprise.  When  I  got  to  City 
Point,  I  conferred  with  the  general  officers  commanding  the  several 
corps,  and  desired  that  they  should  march  on  Richmond,  one  of 
them  with  ten  thousand  men,  being  sure  that  there  were  but  few 
troops  there,  and  they  (the  general  officers)  strongly  opposed  any 
such  deviation  from  the  general  plan.  ...  I  was  to  take  pos 
session  of  the  outer  line  of  fortifications  of  Richmond,  part  of 
which  was  done  the  loth  of  Ma}*,  on  which  day  I  was  to  meet 
Gen'l  Grant  there,  and  of  his  movements  I  was  to  be  informed. 
.  .  .  On  the  15th  of  May,  when  we  were  lying  around  Fort 
Darling,  I  was  informed  by  the  arrival  of  Gen'l  Sheridan,  that 
Gen'l  Grant  had  altered  his  line  of  march  after  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  and  was  moving  on  Cold  Harbor  and  City  Point  by  the 
left  flank,  instead  of  the  right  flank,  as  he  had  expected  to  do  ;  and, 
therefore,  I  had  nothing  to  do  but  perfect  my  fortifications  at  Ber 
muda  Hundreds,  to  aiford  him  a  base  of  supplies. 


286  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

"  The  Walthall  Junction  movement  .  .  .  was  . 
First,  to  impress  upon  the  enemy  that  my  objective  point  was 
Petersburg,  and  the  destruction  of  the  southern  railroad  system  ; 
and,  second,  to  destroy  the  railroad  so  as  to  impede  the  march  of 
troops  and  the  conveyance  of  supplies  into  Richmond.  There  was 
neither  the  intention  or  expectation  of  taking  Petersburg  when  the 
demonstration  near  Swift  Creek  was  made.  On  the  contrary,  when 
I  did  think  of  taking  Petersburg,  I  went  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Appomattox.  The  cause  of  the  delay  from  May  9th  to  May  12th, 
was  that  I  had  agreed  to  be  there  on  the  15th,  and  it  was  necessary 
to  get  the  fortifications  across  the  throat  of  the  peninsula  at  Ber 
muda  Hundreds  in  proper  condition,  to  be  able  to  withstand  any 
attack. 

"At  the  time  we  were  attacking  the  fortifications  around  Rich 
mond  (at  Drewry's  Bluff),  I  had  so  heavy  a  force  stationed  near 
Petersburg,  that,  although  attacked  by  the  whole  Confederate 
force  in  Petersburg  (see  page  270),  trying  to  get  thence  to  Rich 
mond,  no  effect  was  produced  on  our  lines.  And  so  far  as  our 
army  was  concerned,  we  could  have  stayed  with  safety  around 

Richmond  three    or  four  days  longer My  business 

was  done  there.  If  General  Grant  could  not  join  me  there,  I  had 
nothing  to  do  there.  .  .  .  All  details  were  left  to  my  judg 
ment. 

"  I  was  sorry  to  learn  at  the  time  of  the  loss  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh,  which  you  recall  to  my  mind.  They  were  good  men  and 
true,  so  far  as  I  know  ;  but  it  was  the  want  of  proper  picket  sj's- 
tem  in  front  of  the  brigade  to  which  they  were  attached,  and  the 
not  putting  up  of  some  defences  before  the  line  of  that  brigade, 
that  caused  the  severe  loss.  It  is  hardl}r  the  fault  of  the  command 
ing  general  that  a  brigade  gets  surprised  (!)  in  a  fog,  especially 
if  the  precautions  which  he  has  directed  have  not  been  taken  by 
that  brigade." 

At  a  personal  interview  with  General  Butler  at  the  Execu 
tive  Chamber,  the  author  asked  an  explanation  of  the  closing 
part  of  this  letter,  and  received  the  following  reply :  — 

BOSTON,  March  17, 1883. 

You  ask  an  explanation  as  to  what  I  refer  to  as  defective  picket 
system  in  front  of  Heckman's  Brigade,  a  part  of  which  your  regi- 


\    "ft 


Drewry'i  •  1 
«\  Headqua 


v  \«3W****fci5*ir     J»B«. 

f-'^^^' Wisl34'*  T*^^/;Lu\ ?    ^^-.fl*ia         '  — -  T 

^^\  iv/-iK>      \        ~*"«  '      i  i  'i  ^  -**1    *       r\  *•"''  r->       •   >    a     i 

^ty     wits    \  -Ji.    \w  i\f7-  ^V     O   *       ""  Graci^  s  qank  movement 

t,^c.  Frld  >   i«co^.,'Jp":lT' 


5V- 


Battle-fieldofDrewry'sBluff. 

MAY  16,  1864. 

TENTY  SEVENTH  MASS.  HISTORY. 


Rebel  lutrenchmcnti  captured 
IVbcl  Trooiw  Roads 


GEN.    BUTLER    STILL   IN    THE    FOG.  287 

ment  was  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  May.  I  do  not  mean  to 
say,  for  I  do  not  know,  that  pickets  were  not  thrown  out,  and  per 
haps  they  had  covered  themselves  ;  of  that  I  do  not  know.  But  I 
do  know  that  in  front  of  the  line  that  was  not  surprised,  and  the 
part  of  the  line  where  the  surprise  was  repulsed,  there  was  tele 
graph  wire  stretched  about  the  height  of  a  man's  knee,  far  enough 
in  front  to  entirely  disorder  the  enem}-  as  in  the  fog  they  tumbled 
over  it.  And  the  same  precaution  was  ordered  in  front  of  Heck- 
man's  Brigade,  but  there  no  telegraph  wire  was  stretched,  and  so 
far  as  I  know,  no  impediment  thrown  in  its  place.  To  that  I  then 
attributed,  and  now  upon  further  information  I  do  attribute,  the 
misfortune  that  happened  to  that  brigade  that  morning  in  the  fog. 

Yours  truly, 
(Signed)  BENJ.   F.  BUTLER. 

As  Gen'l  A.  A.  Humphrey's  volume  entitled  "  The  Vir 
ginia  Campaign  of  1864  and  1865,"  seemingly  corroborates 
these  letters,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  that  account  is 
largely  from  reports  and  dispatches  from  Gen'l  Butler,  since 
Gen'l  Humphrey  was,  at  the  time  under  consideration,  serv 
ing  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  We  have,  therefore, 
only  Gen'l  Butler  to  reply  to. 

In  matters  pertaining  to  the  civil  war  and  his  individual 
record  therein,  Gen'l  Butler  has  been  so  accustomed  to  go  to 
his  imagination  for  his  facts,  and  to  self-interest  for  their 
confirmation,  that  it  is  hardly  a  source  of  wonder  that  after 
so  terrible  a  defeat,  he  seeks  to  throw  the  odium  from  the 
commander  upon  the  command.  As  to  how  unreliable  these 
statements  of  Gen'l  Butler's  are,  and  how  little  he  was  pre 
pared  for,  or  has  ever  understood,  the  plan  of  Beauregard 
against  him,  we  ask  the  readers  to  re-read  Gen'l  Beaure- 
gard's  official  report  on  page  270,  and  refer  them  to  the 
sketch  of  the  battle-field  of  Drewry's  Bluff;  appending 
letters  from  the  officers  commanding  the  right  of  the  Army 
of  the  James,  viz.  :  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith,  commanding 
Eighteenth  Army  Corps;  Maj.  Gen'l  Godfrey  Weitzel,  com- 


288          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

manding  the  First  Division,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps  ;  and 
Brig.  Gen'l  C.  A.  Heckman,  commanding  the  First  (Star) 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Eighteenth  Corps;  with  statements 
of  regimental  commanders. 

Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith  writes  under  date  of  Feb.  7,  1883  :  — 

"  With  reference  to  Gen'l  Butler's  assertion  of  the  position  taken 
by  Gen'l  Gillmore  and  myself  as  to  bis  march  upon  Richmond,  we 
have  both  denied  it  in  the  public  prints.  The  denial  was  unan 
swered.  Gen'l  Butler  was  however  the  commanding  general,  and  it 
is  rather  pleading  the  baby  act,  to  lay  claim,  after  the  war,  unsup 
ported  by  one  jot  of  evidence,  for  a  brilliant  idea  which  he  did  not 
carry  out  because  his  two  subordinates  did  not  see  it.  The  bril 
liant  ideas  which  are  carried  out  by  commanding  generals,  though 
in  opposition  to  the  advice  of  subordinates,  show  the  military 
leader.  Gen'l  Butler,  from  his  own  showing,  belongs  to  a  different 
grade  of  military  men.  I  was  opposed  to  the  campaign  on  the 
James  River  from  its  inception.  Only  one  person  ever  knew  of  it. 
I  did  my  duty  as  an  honest  soldier  to  carry  out  the  plan,  and  when 
it  failed,  I  told  Gen'l  Butler  what  I  thought  should  be  done." 

NEW  YORK,  March  30,  1883. 

..."  The  inherent  trouble  was  in  the  position  we  held,  and  there 
is  no  blame  to  be  attached  to  an}T  one  save  the  higher  (military) 
powers.  We  had  one  thin  line  with  a  mile  or  more  of  country 
between  our  right  and  the  James  River.  I  had  called  attention  to 
it,  and  even  asked  for  a  small  body  of  cavalry  to  put  in  there  for 
pickets,  but  could  not  get  it.  I  was  excessively  anxious  about  our 
position,  and  reported  that  I  had  no  reserves.  I  was  told  there 
were  two  regiments  back  at  the  "  half-way  house."  The  night 
before  the  attack,  I  had  been  out,  and  personally  established  a 
strong  picket  in  a  house  on  our  right  —  probably  Willis'  in  your 
sketch  —  and  was  there  until  midnight,  thinking  probable  any 
movement  the  enemy  would  make  would  be  against  the  house  first. 
.  .  .  I  was  quite  prepared  to  lose  that  force  if  the}'  made  a  fight 
and  gave  the  alarm. 

"  When  I  went  back  to  headquarters,  it  was  beautifully  clear  with 
brilliant  moonlight,  which  I  thought  favorable  to  us.  When  I  was 


WHAT    GENERALS    SMITH    AND    WEITZEL    SAY.  289 

awakened  by  the  firing  in  the  morning,  I  had  hard  work  to  find  my 
way  to  the  turnpike  where  I  made  headquarters,  and  remained  till 
all  was  over.  The  faulty  disposition  of  our  lines  made  any  form 
of  serious  attack  on  our  right  a  good  plan,  which  would  have  oc 
curred  to  any  one  with  the  slightest  military  experience.  The 
whole  thing,  so  far  as  the  'manoeuvres  and  position  ivere  concerned, 
were  of  that  character  to  free  the  troops  from  all  responsibility  in  the 
matter.  ...  As  I  have  said  before,  nrv  anxieties  were  very  great, 
and  two  or  three  days  before  the  tight  I  happened  to  observe  the 
wire  on  the  poles,  and  sent  to  Gen'l  Brooks  to  take  the  wire  down, 
and  string  it  from  the  stumps  in  his  front.  Gen'l  Brooks  did  not 
attach  any  importance  to  the  wire.  After  the  fight  he  came  to  me, 
rubbing  his  hands,  sa}ring  the  wire  was  a  great  thing,  and  that  his 
men  shot  the  enemy  down  like  partridges.  That  was  all  there  was 
in  that  matter.  I  do  not  think  I  ever  reported  it  to  Gen'l  Butler. 
I  know  the  idea  never  came  from  him.  .  .  . 
"  Faithfully  yours, 

(Signed)         WM.  F.  SMITH." 

It  is  to  be  noticed  Gen'l  Smith's  instructions  regarding  the 
wire  were  only  to  Gen'l  Brooks'  Division.  He  says  nothing 
of  Weitzel's  Division. 

"PHILA.,  PA.,  May  2,  1883. 

..."  Wire  entanglements  were  used  by  most  of  my  division  in 
front  of  its  log  entrenchments.  I  think  no  order  was  given  for  its 
use,  but  it  was  suggested  and,  the  wire  was  taken  from  the 
telegraph  poles  on  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Turnpike.  I  be 
lieve  Heckman's  Brigade  did  not  use  any. 

"  Our  defeat  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  May,  1864,  at  Drew- 
ry's  Bluff,  was  due  to  the  fact  that  my  right  ivas  in  the  open  air 
with  nothing  but  a  thin  skirmish-line  of  cavalry  between  my  right 
and  the  James  River,  a  distance  of  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  ; 
and  that  all  my  troops  were  in  line,  and  I  had  none  to  place  in  re 
serve.  Beauregard  observed  this,  and  made  a  heavy  attack  upon 
my  right  brigade  (Heckman's),  and  by  sheer  force  of  numbers 
rolled  back  that  brigade,  although  the  enemy  suffered  terrifically  in 
doing  it.  ...  The  whole  of  Heckman's  Brigade  fought  most  gal- 


290  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

lantly,  and  no  blame  attaches  to  it  for  the  reverse  on  that  morning. 
The  enemy's  force  hurled  against  it,  outnumbered  it  by  four  to  one 
as  near  as  I  can  remember.  All  of  the  above  is  written  from 
memory.  Very  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  G.  WEITZEL, 

Lieut.  Col.  of  Engineers, 
Brevet  Major  Gen'l,  U.  S.  Army." 

"  PHILA.,  PA.,  May  11,  1883. 

..."  Heckman's  and  "Wi star's  Brigades  were  all  of  my  division 
engaged.  My  other  brigade,  Hincks',  was  the  garrison  of  City 
Point.  I  had  not  a  single  man  in  reserve.  Every  one  of  my  men 
was  in  the  front  line,  and  utterly  unsupported,  until  Gen'l  Turner 
gave  me  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  New  York  and  Ninth  Maine 
.  .  .  I  teas  not  surprised  (at  the  attack)  on  that  morning.  I  had 
myself  awakened  at  four  o'clock,  and  was  drinking  my  coffee,  when 
the  first  firing  began.  Lieut.  Wheeler  of  Heckman's  Brigade  was 
the  first  staff  officer  I  ordered  to  go  the  right,  and  report  to  me. 
He  was  brought  back  soon  after,  in  a  blanket,  mortally  wounded. 
"  Very  truljr  and  sincerely  yours, 

(Signed)  G.  WEITZEL, 

Lieut.  Col.  of  Engineers, 
Brevet  Major  Gen'l,  U.  S.  Army." 

"  PHILLIPSBUBO,  N.  J.,  March  23,  1883. 

.  .  .  "•  The  last  attempt  (of  Gen'l  Butler)  to  palliate  a  crim 
inal  blunder  is  as  imbecile  as  those  preceding  it.  I  have  no  recol- 
ection  of  any  order  for  the  use  of  wire,,  but  I  do  remember  that  on 
the  morning  of  the  15th  I  made  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  procure 
wire,  the  possession  of  which  would  have  helped  to  strengthen  our 
front.  Gen'l  Butler  should  remember  that  Gen'l  Beauregard's 
direct  attacks  were  repulsed  with  fearful  slaughter,  and  that  it  was 
not  until  the  enemy  stole  in  upon  our  rear  that  the  Star  Brigade 
suffered  defeat.  If  a  line  officer  of  military  prestige  (success  under 
fire  with  troops)  had  been  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James 
during  those  days  of  halting  and  doubting,  the  enemy  would  have 
been  driven  from  Petersburg,  Richmond  per  force  occupied  by  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  subsequent  disasters  averted. 
"  I  am  truly  yours, 

(Signed)  C.  A.  HECKMAN." 


SO    SAY   WE    ALL.  291 

Gen'l  Joshua  Pickett,  then  colonel  in  command  of  the 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  and,  after  Gen'l  Heckman's  cap 
ture,  in  command  of  the  Star  Brigade,  with  Gen'l  H.  C. 
Lee,  at  the  time  colonel  commanding  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  Regt.,  unite  in  the  following  statement :  — 

"  We  received  no  order  for  the  use  of  wire.  Our  picket  line  was 
full}-  established  and  under  the  competent  command  of  Lieut.  Col. 
Stewart  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  Regt.  We  had  made  such  a  dis 
position  of  our  commands  as  to  be  ready  for  any  assault.  Such 
fortifications  had  been  thrown  up  as  the  time  and  the  exhausted 
condition  of  our  command  would  permit,  and  the  men  were  tying 
upon  their  arms  at  the  works.  Three  times  during  the  night  we 
were  in  line  to  repel  attack,  and  when  at  length  assaulted,  we 
three  times  repulsed  and  hurled  back  the  hostile  force.  Our  sur 
prise  was  only  in  that  which  was  allowed  to  befall  us  from  the  rear." 

We  have  only  to  add  that  if  Gen'l  Butler  uses  the  terra 
surprised,  as  relating  to  his  ignorance  of  the  enemy's  pur 
pose  or  his  lack  of  preparation  for  what  occurred,  we  do  not 
care  to  question  it,  but  if  it  is  used  as  indicating  heedless- 
ness  or  a  lack  of  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  troops  forming 
Heckman's  Brigade,  we  reply  that  that  matter  was  fully 
investigated  at  the  time,  and  it  was  proved  that  so  far  as  the 
troops  were  concerned,  they  were  on  the  alert,  and  were 
constantly  reporting  during  the  night  the  condition  of  mat 
ters  on  their  front. 

From  this  point,  the  history  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Regt.  must  be  narrated  under  the  following  heads :  the 
regiment  in  active  service ;  the  officers  in  prison  ;  and  the 
rank  and  file  at  Andersonville.  The  night  of  May  15th, 
after  taking  our  new  position,  Maj.  William  A.  Walker, 
received  permission  to  return  to  camp  at  Cobb's  Hill,  expect 
ing  to  rejoin  the  regiment  the  following  morning.  Before 
his  return,  the  disaster  had  occurred,  and  on  him  devolved 
the  difficult  task  of  re-organizing  our  shattered  ranks.  With 


292  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  three  escaped  companies  as  a  nucleus,  the  regiment  was 
formed  into  three  "divisions"  (right,  left  and  centre),  the 
escaped  and  convalescent  of  other  companies  being  united  in 
these  commands.  Capt.  John  W.  Moore  commanded  the 
right" ( B,  F,  I  and  H),  Capt.  P.  S.  Bailey  the  left  (A,  D, 
G),  and  Lieut.  F.  C.  Wright  the  centre  (C,  E  and  K). 
Brig.  Gen'l  George  J.  Stannard,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
report  to  Gen'l  Butler  for  duty  previous  to  the  battle,  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Star  Brigade,  and  the  Fifty- 
Fifth  Pennsylvania  Vol.  Regt.  added  to  the  command. 
Also,  Brig.  Gen'l  J.  H.  Martindale  relieved  Maj.  Gen'l 
Weitzel  from  the  command  of  the  Second  Division,  Eigh 
teenth  Army  Corps. 

Sunday,  May  22d,  was  a  sad  day,  as  with  depleted  ranks 
we  gathered  for  divine  service,  and  reviewed  the  terrible 
experiences  of  the  previous  week.  Fervent  prayer  was 
offered,  that  God  would  shield  those  who  had  fallen  into  the 
enemy's  power,  and  temper  the  winds  to  the  bereaved  at 
home.  While  we  were  engaged  in  this  service,  Maj.  Gen'l 
Martindale  arrived,  and,  dismounting,  remained  with  uncov 
ered  head  until  the  close,  joining  tears  with  us  over  lessons 
drawn  from  the  lives  of  comrades  slain.  The  enemy  having 
forced  Gen'l  Butler's  army  into  his  fortifications  at  Bermuda 
Hundreds,  now  established  opposing  works  in  close  proximity 
to  the  Union  lines.  An  ever-deafening  roar  of  strife  hung 
upon  the  ear,  sounding  more  like  a  continuous  battle  than 
the  skirmishing  of  our  advance.  The  crash  of  heavy  guns 
from  our  navy  at  either  flank,  was  like  spasms  of  volcanic 
eruptions,  which  came  with  a  power  that  seemed  to  un 
shackle  every  nerve.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  under 
the  whirl  of  brain  and  crushing  headaches  consequent  upon 
this  roar,  some  poor  mortals  "  wished  they  would  touch  off 
those  big  guns  a  leetle  easier." 

May  23d,  fifty-five  men  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass., 
and  a  portion  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  with  a  section  of 


AN   IMPORTANT    MOVEMENT.  293 

artillery  and  a  squad  of  cavalry,  made  a  reconnoissance, 
but,  finding  the  enemy  in  strong  force  near  Bakehouse 
Creek,  retired  with  a  loss  of  Joseph  Goddett  of  Pittsfield, 
Company  F,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  wounded  mor 
tally  in  the  thigh.  Our  service  for  the  most  part  consisted 
of  picket  duty,  and  the  strengthening  of  our  works,  with 
frequent  alarms  and  hasty  movements  to  threatened  points. 
During  one  of  these  engagements,  a  Gatling  gun  was  used  upon 
the  enemy,  a  prisoner  inquiring  as  he  passed  it,  "What 
kind  a  gun  is  that  ?  Do  you  load  it  Sunday  and  fire  it  all 
the  week?"  May  26th,  Brooks'  and  Martindale's  Divisions 
of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  and  Devens'  Division  of  the  Tenth 
Corps,  were  detached  from  the  Army  of  the  James,  and 
under  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith,  were  ordered 
to  report  at  City  Point.  The  effective  strength  of  this  com 
mand  was  about  thirteen  thousand  men.  At  ten  o'clock  the 
27th  inst.,  with  blankets,  tents  and  luggage  slung  on  our 
backs,  and  two  days'  rations  in  haversacks,  we  crossed 
the  Appomattox  on  pontons,  arriving  within  a  mile  of  City 
Point  about  midnight  of  the  28th.  At  noon  the  29th,  we 
embarked  upon  the  steamer  "  Vidette  "  and  barge  "  Pratt," 
the  former  an  old  acquaintance  of  the  Burnside  Expedition. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that  this  march  was  in  a  drenching  rain, 
and  our  embarkation,  which  followed,  occurred  on  Sunday, 
both  of  which  were  common  occurrences  in  the  movements 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 


294          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   ARMY  OF   THE   POTOMAC. 

AT  five  P.M.,  May  29th,  the  fleet  of  transports,  laden  with 
troops,  set  sail  from  City  Point.  A  trip  down  the  James, 
at  any  time,  is  not  uninteresting;  but  when  accompanied 
by  a  fleet  of  vessels  laden  with  troops,  through  scenes  re 
nowned  in  early  American  history,  as  well  as  for  recent 
bloody  conflicts,  all  other  travel  touches  the  level  of  stupidity. 
Here  is  the  site  of  Jamestown,  the  first  permanent  settlement 
on  the  continent ;  there  a  portion  of  a  wall,  a  part  of  the  ruins 
of  its  first  meeting-house  ;  here,  also,  the  same  year  that 
brought  our  Pilgrim  Fathers  to  Plymouth  Rock,  was  sown 
the  seed  of  discord  in  African  slavery,  which  was  to  engulf 
the  nation  in  a  bloody  strife.  On  either  side  were  the 
ruined  mansions  and  broad  acres  of  Virginia's  opulent  aris 
tocracy;  here  Malvern  Hill,  and,  further  on,  Harrison's 
Landing,  with  places  of  lesser  note  in  McClellan's  peninsula 
campaign. 

Speculations  were  rife  as  to  our  destination,  which  changed 
into  conviction,  as  we  rounded  Fortress  Monroe,  and  at 
half-past  nine,  the  30th  inst.,  turned  our  prow  up  the  York 
River.  The  morning  was  clear  and  cool,  and  the  transports, 
as  they  moved  forward,  looked  more  like  beehives,  with 
swarming  freights  of  blue-coated  heroes.  At  West  Point,  the 
confluence  of  the  Pamunkey  and  Mattapony  rivers,  word 
was  received  that  Genl  Grant  had  crossed  the  former  river 
at  Hanovertown  the  day  previous,  and  hence  we  entered  that 
crooked  stream.  At  its  mouth,  broad  sweeps  of  marsh  line 


WHITE-HOUSE    LANDING.  295 

it  on  either  side,  bounded  by  wooded  bluffs.  Some  of  the 
transports  appeared  to  be  headed  north,  some  south,  some 
east,  and  some  west ;  in  fact,  the  stream  is  so  crooked  that 
it  was  humorously  stated,  one  of  the  neighboring  farmers 
had  maintained  a  fruitless  lawsuit  for  twenty  years  to  deter 
mine  upon  which  bank  of  the  stream  his  farm  lay.  Late  in 
the  evening  we  arrived  at  White-House  Landing,  remaining 
on  board  until  morning. 

Early  the  31st,  the  scene  was  animating  as  viewed  from 
our  deck.  Troops  debarked,  and,  quickly  forming,  moved 
out  to  the  fields  beyond  to  make  room  for  others,  while  large 
groups  clustered  under  a  tree  near  the  ruins  of  the  Custis 
mansion,  giving  away  to  undisguised  hilarity.  At  this 
mansion  Washington  had  plied  his  courtship  with  Widow 
Custis,  but  all  that  remained  of  the  mansion's  former  gran 
deur  was  a  desolate  chimney.  Traces  of  Sheridan's  raid  ten 
days  previous  lay  about,  with  sickening  eflluvia,  while  half- 
burned  ties,  and  twisted  rails,  told  of  former  pretensions  as 
a  railroad  station. 

Our  march  to  the  front  began  about  three  P.M.,  through, 
rather  than  over,  roads  so  powdered  that  our  course  could 
be  traced  by  rising  columns  of  dust  in  front  and  rear, 
which,  in  settling,  reduced  features,  uniform,  and  folinge  to 
one  common  gray.  The  heat  was  terrible,  not  a  breath  of 
air  relieving  its  intensity.  Sweat  trickled  down  our  dusty 
faces,  and  our  tongues  were  parched  by  the  quantities  of 
dust  inhaled.  Occasional  traces  of  mounds  remained  over 
the  hastily-buried  dead  of  the  peninsula  campaign,  but  with 
out  a  name  or  distinguishing  mark.  Deep  reverberations  were 
heard  through  the  forests  in  quick  succession,  reminding  us 
the  deadly  fray  still  progressed,  and  that  the  Union  commander 
was  in  earnest,  when  he  said,  "I  intend  to  fight  it  out  on 
this  line,  if  it  takes  all  summer  ! "  It  is  said  that  Alexander 
the  Great  when  charged  by  Darius  with  wanton  aggression, 
replied,  "I  am  master  of  Asia;  if  you  care  to  debate  the 


296  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

point,  do  so  like  a  man  on  the  field  of  battle.  I  shall  take 
care  to  find  you  wherever  you  are."  Our  modern  Alexander 
believed  in  the  superior  courage  and  endurance  of  the  Union 
army,  and  was  convinced  that  the  battles  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  had  never  been  fought  through.  Satisfied  with 
their  invincible  spirit,  Gen'l  Grant  gave  notice  to  the  enemy 
that  he  was  master  of  Virginia,  and  that  he  should  debate  the 
point  only  in  battle,  taking  cure  to  find  them  wherever  they 
were. 

About  eleven  o'clock  P  M.,  we  bivouacked  at  New  Castle, 
but,  on  the  morning  of  June  1st,  received  orders  from  Gen'l 
Grant  to  report  at  New  Cold  Harbor.  This  was  the  original 
intention,  but  a  clerical  error  in  the  order  received  at  White- 
. House  Landing,  substituted  "New  Castle"  for  "New  Cold 
Harbor.  The  error  was  a  costly  one,  not  so  much  from  the 
inconvenience  and  fatigue  of  the  additional  march,  as,  had 
we  arrived  the  night  previous,  we  could  have  seized  impor 
tant  positions  in  advance  of  the  rebels,  and  avoided  the 
fearful  loss  afterward  sustained  in  attempting  to  recapture 
them.  A  forced  march  of  twenty  miles  was  made,  under  a 
scorching  sun,  over  a  road  ground  to  powder  by  the  tramp  of 
Sheridan's  cavalry  the  day  previous,  and  through  a  country 
fetid  with  putrefying  carcasses  of  animals,  the  stench  from 
which  was  sickening  and  intolerable. 

The  morale  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  was  such 
that  Capt.  Denny,  Provost  Marshal  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps, 
commanding  the  rear  guard,  reported  only  four  stragglers 
from  our  numbers.  At  three  P.  M.  we  came  upon  the  rear 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  at  Old  Church,  eleven  miles  from  Rich 
mond,  this  force  being  en  route  from  the  right  to  the  extreme 
left  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  the  nation's  idol.  Into  it, 
more  than  any  other  army,  had  been  poured  unstinted 
treasures  and  supplies ;  but  divided  counsels,  and  a  wily 
foe,  had  loaded  it  with  misfortunes.  It  consisted  of  vete- 


THE    ARMY    OF   THE    POTOMAC.  297 

rans,  many  of  whom  considered  the  services  of  other  Eastern 
troops  pastime  and  skirmishing,  compared  with  that  exacted 
of  them.  Their  numbers  exceeded  that  of  all  other  Eastern 
divisions  combined,  and  the  strife  and  carnage  attending 
their  engagements  seemed  to  belittle  the  contests  of  less 
pretentious  forces.  They  had  endured  long  and  fatiguing 
marches,  and  their  courage  and  endurance  had  been  equal  to 
the  most  trying  emergencies.  Every  field,  from  the  Poto 
mac  to  the  Chickahominy,  had  drank  deep  of  their  life-blood, 
and  though  discouraged  by  frequent  and  disastrous  defeats, 
they  never  shrank  from  meeting  the  enemy.  As  Gen'l 
Palfrey  well  says  :  "Its  story  is  a  sad  one,  for  it  wns  always 
better  than  its  commander,  and  marched  and  fought, 
endured  and  achieved,  rarely  animated  by  victory."  It  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  with  such  convictions  and  experi 
ences,  this  army  discounted  the  services  of  a  corps  formed 
from  troops  along  the  coast,  and  greeted  us  sarcastically, 
"  Hallo!  Parlor  Soldiers!" 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  directly  in  front,  with  the 
Sixth  Corps  taking  position,  four  columns  deep,  at  the  left, 
near  New  Cold  Harbor.  Warren's  Fifth  Corps  rested  with  its 
left  on  Woody's  farm,  a  mile  north  of  Games'  Mill  road,  and 
its  right  near  Bethesda  Church.  Burnside's  Ninth  Corps, 
with  line  deflected  to  the  rear,  and  right,  rested  near  Gil- 
man's  Mills,  while  Hancock's  Second  Corps  was  at  the 
extreme  right,  advantageously  situated  to  protect  the  flank, 
or  act  as  a  reserve.  The  whole  line  extended,  irregularly, 
eight  miles,  with  Sheridan's  Cavalry  on  the  left,  and 
Wilson's  at  the  right.  We  copy  the  following  from  Gen'l 
Smith's  report :  — 

"  The  converging  lines  at  Cold  Harbor  rendered  its  occupation 
of  inestimable  value,  and  Gen'l  Sheridan  was  ordered  on  the  31st 
to  seize  the  position  with  his  cavalry,  and  hold  it  until  the  arrival 
of  the  Sixth  and  Eighteenth  Corps,  who  were  ordered  to  his  sup- 


298  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

port.     Accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  1st,  he  occupied  the 
place,  after  a  sharp  encounter. 

"  Gen'l  Lee,  realizing  the  value  of  the  strategical  point,  had 
been  hastening  forward  Longstreet's  Corps,  and  at  the  time  of  our 
arrival,  was  pressing  Gen'l  Sheridan  at  all  points  with  overwhelm 
ing  numbers.  The  arrival  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  was  opportune 
to  his  veterans,  whose  prowess  still  held  the  enemy  at  bay,  and 
who  had  been  expecting  us,  with  no  knowledge  of  the  cause  of 
our  dela}r.  The  precise  terms  of  my  orders  was  '  to  hold  the  road 
from  Cold  Harbor  to  Bethesda  Church,  and  to  co-operate  with  the 
Sixth  Corps  in  an  attack.'  The  attenuated  line  of  the  left,  with 
character  of  ni}T  instructions,  led  me  to  act  on  the  latter  part  of 
instructions. 

Gen'l  Smith  advanced  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  in  a  single 
line,  to  unite  with  the  forces  on  either  side,  —  Devens' 
Division  on  the  left,  Brooks  in  centre,  and  Martindale  at  the 
right.  Devens'  and  Brooks'  Divisions  relieved  the  right  of 
the  Sixth  Corps,  and,  charging  upon  the  enemy,  drove  them 
from  the  works,  capturing  five  hundred  prisoners ;  but, 
being  unable  to  hold  their  advance,  were  driven  back,  with 
a  loss  of  about  eight  hundred  killed  and  wounded.  A  por 
tion  of  Martindale's  Division  was  ordered  to  their  support, 
but  darkness  intervened,  and  the  order  was  countermanded. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass  Regt.  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Companies  F  and  H  were  deployed,  and,  advancing 
through  a  belt  of  woods  and  marsh,  were  soon  sharply 
engaged  with  the  enemy.  Here  they  remained  during  the 
night,  subjected  to  scathing  volleys,  with  a  loss  of  John  W. 
Madison,  of  Westfield,  wounded  through  the  shoulder,  and 
of  Daniel  B.  Pomeroy  (Granville),  of  Company  F,  mortally 
wounded  in  the  side.  Madison  was  wounded  in  the  left  lung, 
the  ball  lodging  near  the  shoulder-blade.  The  ball  forced 
a  piece  of  his  rubber  blanket,  one  inch  wide  and  one  and  one- 
half  inches  long,  into  his  lung,  which  remained  there  five 
years  and  three  months,  when  he  succeeded  in  coughing  it 


PROMPTLY    AT    WORK.  299 

up.  The  ball  still  remains.  He  now  resides  at  Hatfield, 
Mass.  About  dark,  the  rest  of  the  regiment  took  position 
at  the  left,  supporting  Devens'  Division,  near  Rickett's 
Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  From  this  point  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  marched  through  a  strip  of  timber,  and, 
pressing  to  the  extreme  front,  relieved  Drake's  New  York 
Brigade.  The  position  was  in  a  ploughed  field,  subjected 
to  an  enfilading  fire  from  the  enemy's  works,  from  which 
frequent  sorties  were  made  on  us  during  the  night.  A 
heavy  rain  converted  the  field  to  a  sea  of  mud,  in  which 
we  laid  down,  to  protect  ourselves  from  the  missiles  of  death. 
Such  was  the  introduction  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  and  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
During  the  night,  Hancock's  Corps  moved  to  the  extreme  left, 
with  orders  for  the  Ninth  Corps  to  follow,  but  the  movement 
was  detected  by  Gen'l  Lee,  and  the  latter  corps  was  attacked 
so  vigorously  that  its  removal  was  delayed  until  the  5th 
inst. 

The  following  letter,  picked  up  by  one  of  our  men  on  this 
field,  is  too  suggestive  to  need  comment :  — 

MY  SAINTED  LOVE,  —  If  the  Yankee  cusses  will  let  me  alone,  I 
will,  write  you.  U.  S.  Grant  is  a  "  bull-dog,"  and  Meade  a  match 
for  the  d — 1.  No  matter  how  deep  we  get  into  the  woods,  the 
Yanks  are  sure  to  find  us.  The}'  fight  more  fiercely  than  I  have 
ever  seen  them  before.  They  build  strong  works,  and  then  our 
brave  officers  order  us  to  charge  them.  We  have  done  so,  and 
get  h — 1  every  time.  My  dear,  you  will  excuse  this  language,  for 
if  you  were  here  you  would  say  h — 1,  too.  Do  not  blame  me,  my 
sainted  love,  but  I  really  wish  I  was  out  of  this  army  and  joined  to 
you  in  the  holy  bond  of  matrimony. 

I  must  close  ;  the  Yankees  are  coming. 

Truly  your  own, 

J.  GRAHAM, 

Sg't  C.S.A. 

At  early  light  a  now  unknown  brigade  relieved  Compa 
nies  F  and  H  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  and  a  part  of 


300  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Devens'  Division  relieved  the  remainder  of  the  regiment, 
when  Major  Walker  retired  to  seek  the  former  companies. 
Under  cover  of  darkness  the  enemy  succeeded  in  con 
structing  and  occupying  an  advanced  line  of  rifle-pits,  and 
opened  a  cross-fire  upon  the  position  captured  by  Barton's 
Brigade  the  night  previous.  While  cooking  our  morning 
rations,  a  major  of  Gen'l  Deveus'  staff  rode  up  in  haste, 
ordering  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  to  Barton's  assist 
ance,  and  offering  to  lead  us  to  position.  After  making 
a  short  detour  through  some  woods  to  the  right,  and  into  a 
newly  cleared  field,  we  were  suddenly  attacked  by  the  enemy 
under  cover  of  woods  in  front.  The  first  volley  cut  our 
lines  seriously.  Fortunately  the  felled  timber  afforded  some 
protection  to  our  men.  After  holding  this  position  for  a 
short  time,  we  were  enabled  to  reach  the  cover  of  the  woods, 
where  we  remained  until  afternoon,  when  Major  Walker  re 
turned  with  orders  to  rejoin  the  brigade.  Of  this  engage 
ment  Capt.  Caswell,  temporarily  in  command  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment,  writes  : — 

..."  Whether  the  enemy  had  taken  a  new  position  unknown  to 
the  officer  directing  us,  or  that  he  had  lost  the  exact  position,  or 
directions,  I  am  unable  to  say.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  regi 
ment  near  me  when  we  were  fired  upon,  but,  from  that  moment,  I 
have  never  seen  or  heard  from  him.  ...  I  soon  discovered  if 
we  could  reach  a  position  eight  or  ten  rods  to  the  right,  we  would 
be  out  of  the  enemy's  range,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  it  without 
further  loss." 

The  loss  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was  four  killed 
and  fourteen  wounded,  most  of  whom  fell  by  the  first 

volley  : — 

KILLED. 

ROLLIN  COWLES,  Amherst,  Company  D  ;  throat  cut ;  grape  shot. 
EPHRAIM  MARSH,  Jr.,  Leverett,  Company  D. 
CHARLES  D.  MULLET,  Amherst,  Company  D. 
RODOLPHUS  L.  BAKER,  Company  E. 


SIMEON  E.  PRESTON. 


FRANKLIN  ELWELL. 


WILLIAM  R.  MONTAGUE. 


JOHN  E.  CUSHMAN. 


Prin.  Musician  LINEUS  C.  SKINNER. 


JOHN  D.  PARSONS. 


A   GENERAL   ASSAULT    ORDERED.  301 


WOUNDED. 

Company  B.  —  William  A.  Brizzee,  Hubbardston  ;  shot  in  thigh, 
shoulder  and  left  leg. 

Company  C.  —  Dwight  Russell,  Amherst ;  finger. 

Company  D.  —  Sergt.  Ptolemy  P.  Cutler,  Amherst,  both  legs 
and  thigh  ;  fatal . 

Sergt.  Edward  B.  Dickinson,  Amherst ;  hip  and  head  ;  slight. 

Sergt.  John  F.  Russell,  Hadley ;  shoulder,  side  and  thigh ; 
fatal. 

Sergt.  Simeon  E.  Preston,  Amherst ;  head  ;  slight. 

Private  Watson  E.  Carr,  Huntington  ;  left  leg,  right  foot ;  fatal. 

Private  Marshall  A.  Cowles,  Hadley  ;  hand. 

Private  Henr}T  Hawley,  Amherst ;  left  ankle  ;  severe. 

Private  Henry  B.  Sears,  Amherst ;  right  thigh. 

Private  Frederick  H.  Smith,  Hadley ;  right  arm. 

Company  F.  —  Private  Hiram  Spooner,  Southampton ;  abdo 
men  ;  fatal. 

Company  I.  —  Private  Homer  R.  King,  Ludlow  ;  chin  ;  slight. 

Company  K.  —  Private  William  H.  Fuller,  Chicopee ;  leg  and 
abdomen  ;  fatal. 

Orders  were  issued  for  a  general  assault  along  the  entire 
line  at  4.30  P.  M.,  but  owing  to  a  tempest  of  wind  and  rain 
the  time  was  changed  to  half-past  four  the  following  morn 
ing.  It  was  well  that  mortal  vision  could  not  penetrate  the 
veil  that  hid  the  morrow.  Thousands  lay  down  that  night 
to  their  last  earthly  sleep,  and  tens  of  thousands  to  a  rest 
whose  reveille  would  be  a  call  "  to  arms,"  for  ere  another  sun 
should  cast  its  rays  upon  them,  these  fields  would  reek  with 
human  gore.  Such  hours  were  rich  in  thoughts  of  home. 
All  the  letters  at  hand  were  read  and  re-read  by  flickering 
lights,  until  every  word  was  traced  upon  the  heart  and  every 
stroke  of  the  pen  seemed  eloquent  with  love.  These  letters 
were  then  committed  to  the  flames,  so  that  no  misfortune 
could  place  them  in  treacherous  hands.  Little  packages, 
taken  from  the  inner  pocket,  were  carefully  unfolded,  and  a 


302  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

long  look  taken  of  the  dear  ones  at  home.  Strong  men 
sat  pale  and  thoughtful,  forming  resolutions,  the  effects 
of  which  were  to  be  seen  in  the  morrow's  contest.  A  few 
were  apparently  hilarious  and  thoughtless.  One  by  one  they 
laid  themselves  upon  the  ground  and  were  soon  lost  in  slum 
ber.  Sleep,  brave  comrades  !  the  morning's  struggle  will 
call  for  all  your  courage  and  strength. 

Says  Gen'l  Smith,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  "A  circular 
order  was  received  on  the  evening  of  June  2,  1864,  requiring 
all  corps  commanders  to  attack  the  enemy  in  their  front  at 
4.30  A.  M.  the  next  day.  There  was  no  plan  of  battle,  and 
no  concert  of  action,  and  the  result  might  have  been  pre 
dicted.  I  lost  too  many  good  men  there  ever  to  forget  the 
battle." 

The  rain  still  fell ;  a  dark,  gloomy  morning  ushering  in  the 
3d  of  June.  At  early  dawn,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment 
was  quietly  awakened,  and,  hastily  disposing  of  "  hard-tack 
and  coffee,"  marched  in  advance  of  the  brigade,  to  the  extreme 
left  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  near  Getty's  position,  of  the 
Sixth  Corps.  Passing  under  cover  of  a  wooded  elevation, 
into  a  ravine  with  a  small  "  run,"  we  followed  it  until  we 
reached  the  edge  of  the  woods,  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy's 
works.  A  terrific  artillery  combat  soon  opened  from  Han 
cock's  left  to  the  extreme  right,  under  cover  of  which  we 
countermarched,  obliquely,  up  another  ravine,  and  imme 
diately  deployed  as  skirmishers.  Quickly  advancing  up  the 
bank  of  the  ravine,  and  over  its  crest,  we  encountered  and 
drove  the  enemy's  pickets  from  two  lines  of  rifle-pits  into 
their  main  works,  one  hundred  yards  distant.  Here  they 
opened  a  raking  fire,  before  which  it  was  madness  to  ad 
vance,  and  we  crouched  behind  the  enemy's  works,  in  re 
verse.  Comrades  De  Forrest  and  Richards,  of  Company  F, 
were  killed  in  this  movement.  It  was  a  position  trying  the 
stoutest  hearts.  Before  us,  on  a  commanding  eminence, 
were  the  enemy's  works,  with  salients  near  our  right  and  left, 


THE    FIELD    OF    COLD    HARBOR.  303 

and  with  centre  well  refused.  Behind  them  lay  Gen.  Hill's 
rebel  corps,  with  nine  stands  of  colors  in  view,  and  giving 
blows  with  a  mailed  hand  upon  our  slender  column.  Mid 
way,  between  the  fire  of  contending  hosts,  we  crouched  be 
hind  the  captured  "  rifle-pits,"  the  air  rent  with  an  unearthly 
contest. 

Gen'l  Smith,  who  had  fixed  his  headquarters  upon  a  hil 
lock  covered  with  trees,  about  five  hundred  yards  to  the 
rear,  came  to  the  position  where  the  brigade  was  forming, 
and  held  a  hurried  conversation  with  Gen'ls  Martindale  and 
Stannard,  during  which  our  artillery  ceased  firing,  and  "  the 
recall "  was  sounded  for  the  TAventy-Seventh  Regiment. 

The  position  assigned  for  assault  was  a  commanding  one, 
at  the  right  of  a  road  leading  from  Cold  Harbor  to  Games' 
Mills,  and  constituted  the  key  to  the  enemy's  position.  It 
was  considered  the  most  desirable  route  for  advance,  either 
directly  upon  Richmond  or  for  a  flank  movement  to  the  left 
across  the  Chickahominy.  The  position  of  the  two  armies, 
reversed,  was  essentially  the  same  as  occupied  by  them  in 
the  battle  of  Games'  Mills,  June  27,  1862.  The  fields  be 
tween  the  armies  were  undulating,  with  ravines,  hillocks,  and 
timber,  but  for  the  most  part  arable  and  recently  ploughed. 
•Across  the  field,  fifteen  hundred  yards  from  our  works,  was  a 
serrated  line  of  pine  woods  skirting  the  crest  of  a  low  hill,  along 
which,  a  year  previous,  the  enemy  had  constructed  perma 
nent  and  formidable  works  of  logs  and  earth,  which,  at  this 
time,  were  green  with  sod.  In  front  of  these  were  two 
lines  of  redans  and  curvettes,  one  hundred  and  three  hun 
dred  yards  distant,  the  latter  bordering  a  ravine  which  ran 
southwesterly  and  obliquely  to  the  enemy's  works.  The 
crest  of  this  ravine  was  fringed  with  brush,  and  the  field 
interlvin£,  dotted  with  stunted  oaks.  Back  of  this  was  the 

«/          o " 

hillock  occupied  by  Gen'l  Smith  during  the  engagement ; 
then  a  ravine,  near  which  many  of  our  dead  were  buried  ; 
then  a  cleared  space  of  one  hundred  yards,  followed  by 


304          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

woods,  in  front  of  which  was  a  line  of  intrenchments  cap 
tured  June  1st ;  beyond,  another  cleared  field,  and  on  the 
opposite  side,  the  position  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  previous 
to  the  assault. 

The  enemy's  position  was  some  fifteen  feet  higher  than  the 
field  in  front,  and  was  supported  by  such  a  force  as  to  ren 
der  it  fairly  impregnable.  Military  usage,  as  taught  and 
practised  hitherto,  would  have  shunned  such  a  fastness,  for 
nothing  but  dire  necessity  justifies  the  hurling  of  men 
against  such  a  wall.  Von  Moltke,  the  German  chieftain  of 
the  Franco-German  war,  was  wont  to  assault  such  places  by 
successive  approaches  with  strong  lines  of  skirmishers. 
Every  advance  was  held,  until  succeeding  lines  of  skirmish 
ers  had  brought  forward  his  entire  force.  This  was  repeated 
until  the  Germans  were  able  to  get  so  near  as  to  charge 
with  their  whole  army  over  a  very  limited  space,  or,  as  was 
often  the  case,  until  they  held  the  works  of  the  French  in 
reverse.  It  is  possible  that  a  vastly  superior  army  in  num 
bers,  might  have  secured  the  reduction  of  this  stronghold  by 
attrition,  but  a  reasonable  economy  of  life  would  have  sug 
gested  approaches  or  more  extended  siege  operations,  or  the 
forcing  of  its  evacuation  by  flank  movements,  as  more 
humane.  It  is  stated  that  Gen'l  Grant  has  included  this 
charge  of  June  3d,  at  Cold  Harbor,  as  "  one  of  the  three 
mistakes  of  the  war." 

The  Star  Brigade  was  formed  in  double  column,  the 
Twenty- Seventh  Mass.,  Major  Walker,  and  the  Twenty-Fifth 
Mass.,  Col.  Pickett,  forming  the  first  line,  supported  by  the 
Twenty-Third  Mass.,  Col.  Elwell,  and  the  Fifty-Fifth 
Penn.,  Capt.  Nesbitt,  the  whole  brigade  hardly  exceeding 
six  hundred  men.  The  Ninth  New  Jersey  Kegiment  failed 
to  participate,  their  transport  having  grounded  in  coming  up 
the  river. 

As  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  took  position,  Capt.  E.  K. 
Wilcox  of  Company  I  —  aide-de-camp  to  Gen'l  Stannard  — 


FEARFUL  AND  FRUITLESS  CHARGE.          305 

came  forward  to  the  left  of  the  line,  and  against  protest,  de 
clared  his  purpose  to  join  the  regiment  in  the  assault.  The 
line  was  speedily  formed,  when  Gen'l  Smith's  voice  rang  out 
on  the  morning  air,  "  Forward  !  "  The  brigade  with  a  shout 
sprang  up  the  hill,  over  the  crest  and  the  first  line  of  rifle- 
pits,  into  the  riven  field.  Forward,  struggling  like  mad 
dened  billows  amongst  breakers, — mown  down  by  scores, 
—  but  onward,  till  the  second  line  of  rifle-pits  are  reached; 
over,  and  the  gallant  men  like  a  wave  shorn  of  its  strength, 
sink  under  the  terrible  storm.  Again  they  struggle  to 
breast  the  iron  hail,  crouching  to  escape  its  fury,  for  that 
brigade  had  never  learned  to  acknowledge  defeat  in  the  open 
field. 

"  Thrice  the  assailants  shook  them  free, 
Once  gained  their  feet,  and  twice  their  knee," 

till  the  crumbling  ranks  sank  under  the  withering  fire,  unable 
to  reach  the  goal,  or  retrace  their  steps  to  friendly  shelter. 
"  Into  ten  mortal  minutes  was  crowded  an  age  of  action, 
ten  minutes  of  the  figment  men  call  time,  and  yet  that  scant 
space  decided  a  battle.  There  are  a  thousand  details,  ten 
thousand  episodes,  but  the  essential  was  this,  — that  first  rush 
carried  our  force  butt  up  against  a  line  of  works  which  we 
were  unable  to  break,  or,  if  broken,  hold.  Conceive  the 
fierce  onslaught,  midst  deafening  volleys  of  musketry,  thun- 
derings  of  artillery,  and  the  wild,  mad  yell  of  battle ;  see 
the  ranks  mown  down  as  they  contend  for  every  inch  they 
advance,  until  the  lines  crumble  and  break  before  the  iron 
tempest.  Conceive  of  all  this,  and  you  will  then  be  able  to 
individualize  acts  as  they  occurred  along  the  line."  Each 
man  in  the  "  Star  Brigade"  was  a  host,  and  the  sum  of 
their  heroism  an  immortal  action.  It  was  a  repetition  of  the 
lustrous  charge  of  the  Light  Brigade  at  Balaklava,  whose 
heroic  action  Tennyson  has  so  vividly  set  forth,  and  which, 
aptly,  with  little  change,  has  been  applied  to  this  action,  in 
Denny's  "  Wearing  the  Blue." 


306          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

"  Forward  the  Star  Brigade  ! 
Was  there  a  soul  dismayed? 
Not  though  the  soldier  knew 
Some  one  had  blundered. 
Theirs  not  to  make  reply, 
Theirs  not  to  reason  why, 
Theirs  but  to  do  or  die, 
Into  the  field  of  Death 
Charged  the  six  hundred. 

"  Cannon  to  right  of  them, 
Cannon  to  left  of  them, 
Cannon  in  front  of  them, 
Volleyed  and  thundered ; 
Stormed  at  with  shot  and  shell, 
Boldly  they  charged,  and  well, 
Into  the  jaws  of  Death, 
Into  the  mouth  of  Hell, 
Charged  the  six  hundred." 

It  was  almost  impossible  to  move  and  live,  the  lifting  of  a 
head  or  hand  being  a  signal  for  volleys  of  musketry.  Many 
lay  surrounded  by  the  dead,  which  they  so  arranged  as  to 
make  defences,  behind  which  the  living  might  crouch  their 
heads,  and  escape  the  plunging  fire  of  the  adversary.  Trees 
of  considerable  size  were  so  riddled  by  rifle-shots,  that  they 
fell  before  the  storm.  The  surface  of  the  field  seemed  like 
a  boiling  caldron,  from  the  incessant  pattering  and  plough 
ing  of  shot,  which  raised  the  dirt  in  geysers  and  spitting 
sands.  Some  of  the  wounded  attempted  to  work  back  to 
the  ravine  during  the  day,  but  only  a  few  succeeded. 
Doubtless  many  of  those  who  died  would  have  been  saved, 
could  their  wounds  have  been  cared  for.  Major  Walker  and 
Capt.  Wilcox  were  instantly  killed  as  they  passed  the  last 
line  of  rifle-pits,  the  first  by  a  rifle-ball  through  his  neck, 
the  latter  pierced  by  several  fatal  shots.  Both  were  at  the 
head  of  the  column  cheering  their  men  onward.  So  thick 
were  the  dead,  and  such  the  necessity  that  the  living  should 
appear  to  be  so,  that  one  of  our  men  lay  a  considerable  time 


RETURNING  FROM  THE  CHARGE.  307 

without  knowing  all  were  dead  about  him.  The  second  line, 
(the  Twenty-Third  Mass,  and  Fifty-Fifth  Penn.)  with  such 
of  the  first  line  as  failed  to  pass  the  rifle-pits,  fell  behind 
the  earth- works  in  reverse,  and  stubbornly  resisted  all 
attempts  of  the  enemy  to  advance. 

Thus  the  day  passed  till  darkness  spread  its  pall  over  the 
scene,  when 

"  They  that  had  fought  so  well, 
Came  thro'  the  jaws  of  Death, 
Back  from  the  mouth  of  Hell, 
All  that  was  left  of  them  ; 
Left  of  six  hundred." 

As  we  leisurely  passed  the  brave  Sixth  Corps,  crowds  of 
them  greeted  us  in  cordial  sympathy,  exclaiming,  "If  you 
are  parlor  soldiers,  you  charge  and  fight  like  h — 1  !  "  We 
had  received  a  bloody  initiation  into  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  From  that  time  the  Star  Brigade  was  in  full  stand 
ing  with  the  army,  and  we  heard  nothing  more  of  "parlor 
soldiers."  The  whole  army  had  been  ordered  to  advance,  on 
that  fatal  morning,  but,  having  neither  plan  or  concert  of 
action,  success  was  impossible.  Hancock's  Second  Corps 
which  moved  to  the  extreme  left  the  day  previous,  assailed 
the  enemy  near  Watts  Hill,  gaining  a  temporary  advantage, 
but  were  forced  to  retire  with  a  heavy  loss.  Gen'l  Tyler 
and  several  colonels  were,  killed.  Barlow's  Division  sus 
tained  the  brunt  of  the  battle  at  that  point ;  McKeon's 
Biigade  of  Gibbon's  Division  fought  with  conspicuous  gal 
lantry,  their  commander  falling  in  the  contest.  The  Sixth 
Corps,  under  a  desolating  fire,  carried  the  first  line,  but 
made  no  farther  progress  against  the  batteries  posted  on 
their  front.  Warren,  on  our  right,  suffered  little,  while  for 
some  unaccountable  reason,  Burnside's  Ninth  Corps  failed 
to  move  until  afternoon.  His  inactivity  allowed  the  concen 
tration  of  a  portion  of  Hill's  Corps  upon  us. 

The   Eighteenth    Corps   constituted    the    centre    of    the 


308  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

army,  and  had  a  most  important  part  assigned  them. 
Two  years  previous,  Gen'l  McClellan  held  the  heights 
on  our  front,  unfortified ;  and,  though  the  enemy  were 
massed  in  double  column,  and  were  hurled  against  the  posi 
tion  with  desperate  fury,  it  was  carried  only  after  two  days' 
struggle,  by  an  army  double  our  own,  and  with  terrible  loss. 
The  position  of  the  contestants  was  now  reversed,  with  the 
additional  advantage  to  the  enemy,  of  heavy  and  permanent 
fortifications.  They  were  fighting  with  the  desperation  born 
of  despair,  in  their  last  Thermopylae  before  reaching  the 
defences  of  their  capital.  It  was  an  evidence  of  the  disci 
pline  and  courage  of  the  Union  arms,  that  such  an  assault 
could  be  made.  The  loss  sustained  in  three  days,  had  been 
equal  to  the  aggregate  strength  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps. 
The  official  loss  as  reported,  was  seventeen  hundred  and  five 
killed,  nine  thousand  and  forty-two  wounded,  and  twenty- 
four  hundred  and  six  prisoners,  an  aggregate  loss  to  our 
army  of  thirteen  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men ; 
while  that  of  the  enemy  (confessedly  correct)  was  about 
eleven  hundred.  The  loss  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  was 
about  three  thousand,  and  that  of  the  Star  Brigade  three 
hundred  and  forty-seven  men,  or  more  than  half  its  effective 
strength.  A  few  hours  after  the  first  assault,  Gen'l  Meade 
sent  orders  to  each  corps  commander  to  renew  the  assault. 
The  order  passed  from  corps  to  divisions,  brigades  and  regi 
ments,  but  not  a  man  stirred,  the  immobile  columns  making 
a  silent  but  emphatic  protest  against  further  sacrifice. 

It  is  worthy  of  record  as  to  the  confidence  of  the  com 
manding  general  in  the  Star  Brigade,  that  when  Gen'l  Smith 
received  orders  to  assault  this  position,  he  was  ordered 
to  select  his  best  brigade.  None  other  would  do,  as  it  is 
customary  to  select  for  storming  columns  the  elite  of  the 
army.  Gen'l  Smith  remarked  just  before  the  charge,  "  It  is 
simply  an  order  to  slaughter  my  best  troops  !  I  have  no 
discretion  left  me." 


OPINIONS   AS    TO    THE    CHARGE.  309 

The  "Herald"  correspondent  wrote  upon  the  field: 
"  Stannard's  Brigade  (Heckman's  old  command)  again  cov 
ered  itself  with  glory,  charging  across  an  open  field,  and 
through  dense  woods  filled  with  the  enemy  and  continuous 
lines  of  rifle-pits.  The  slaughter  was  terrible,  but  they  held 
their  position  through  the  day.  A  perfect  hail  of  musket- 
balls  and  shell,  poured  down  on  those  devoted  men,  and  re 
peated  charges  were  made  to  drive  them  from  their  advanced 
position,  but  with  a  tenacity  and  courage  that  deserves  to  be 
immortalized,  they  held  their  ground  until  the  enemy  gave 
up  in  despair."  Another  wrote  :  "  Stannard  and  Stedman's 
Brigades,  of  Martindale's  Division,  lost  heavily.  They  were 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  and  advanced  to  the  second  line  of 
the  enemy's  works.  Stannard  proved  a  worthy  successor  of 
the  fighting  Heckman,  and  the  old  brigade,  under  his  orders, 
again  covered  itself  with  glory.  Genl.  Stannard,  though 
wounded,  refused  to  leave  the  field/'  Still  another  corre 
spondent  wrote  :  ' '  The  results  were  equally  disastrous  to 
our  whole  line,  and  only  the  Eighteenth  Corps  succeeded  in 
making  any  decided  advance  in  their  lines,  and  retaining  it. 
A  rebel  major,  while  viewing  the  carnage  of  the  field,  during 
the  truce  of  the  7th,  remarked  to  Surgeon  Fish  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh,  "  It  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  use 
less  charges  I  ever  witnessed." 

The  losses  of   the   Massachusetts  regiments  in  the  Star 
Brigade  were  as  follows  : 

Twenty-Third  Mass.  Regt.,  three  killed,  forty-six  wound 
ed,  five  prisoners. 

Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  fifty-three  killed,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  wounded,  twenty-eight  prisoners. 

Twenty-Seventh    Mass.    Regt.,    fifteen    killed,    sixty-five 
wounded,  -four  prisoners. 

We  append  a  detailed  account  of  the  casualities  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  :  — 


310          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    KEGIMENT. 

KILLED. 

Maj.  WILLIAM  A.  WALKER,  Greenfield. 
Capt.  EDWARD  K.  WILCOX,  Springfield. 
Lieut.  SAMUEL  MORSE,  Chicopee. 

Company  D. 
DWIGHT  BARRETT,  Belchertown  ;  HENRY  E  POTTER,  Hadley. 

Company  E. 

HENRY  GLOVER,  Douglas  ;  JAMES  E.  THOMPSON,  Monterey. 
* 

Company  F. 

HARVEY  DEFOREST,  Lee  ;    REUBEN  A.  RICHARDS,  Springfield. 

Company  Q. 
Sergt.  EDWIN  C.  HENDRICKS,  Chicopee  ;  Sergt.  IRVIN  CHAPIN, 

Cbicopee. 

Company  H. 

LEVI  EDSON,  Amherst ;  JOHN  BULFIN,  Cheshire. 

Company  I. 
ELAND  MERRITT,  Palmer. 

Company  K. 
DAVID  BOLIO,  Pittsfield. 

WOUNDED. 
Company  A. 
Corp.  Frederick  Jessimine,  Westhampton  ;    abdomen,  fatal. 

Company  B. 

Capt.  A.  W.  Caswell,  Gardner;  slight. 

Sergt.  Albert  D.  Pond,  Athol;  left  thigh.  George  H.  Dodge, 
Leverett ;  left  thigh,  fatal.  Thomas  Barbour,  Easthampton,  con 
tusion. 

Company  C. 

William  B.  Saxton,  Deerfield ;  leg,  flesh  wound,  serious. 
Patrick  Bain,  Jr.,  Deerfield ;  contusion,  thigh,  severe.  John 
Richards,  Hatfield ;  left  arm  and  side,  flesh  wound,  right  knee  and 
thigh  amputated,  fatal. 


WOUNDED    AT    COLD   HARBOR.  311 

Company  D. 

Capt.  P.  S.  Bailey,  Springfield  ;  right  leg,  slight. 

Sergt.  Edward  B.  Dickinson,  Amherst ;  forehead,  figures  "  27" 
driven  into  the  skull. 

Corp.  Chester  Dickinson,  Jr.,  Amherst;  right  arm.  Corp. 
Medad  Vinton,  Amherst ;  leg.  Lewis  H.  Freeman,  New  Salem  ; 
head.  William  W.  Lind,  Granby ;  head,  slight.  Cornelius 
O'Connor,  Amherst ;  head.  Jacob  L.  Rust,  Amherst ;  finger  am 
putated. 

Company  E, 

Lieut.  H.  Smith  Newell,  Chicopee  ;  right  leg,  severe. 

Corp.  William  W.  Cummings,  Warren  ;  foot,  slight.  Martin 
Gaitley,  Lanesborough  ;  wrist.  Rufus  Groat,  Pittsfield  ;  leg  and 
right  hand.  John  H.  Hewitt,  Monterey  ;  abdomen,  fatal.  Joseph 
W.  Huntley,  Great  Barrington ;  slight.  Augustus  H.  Martin, 
Lenox ;  arm. 

Company  F. 

Capt.  John  W.  Moore,  Tolland  ;  temple,  slight. 

Sergt.  Hiram  G.  Everton,  Westfield  ;  thigh  and  finger,  slight. 
Sergt.  George  W.  Cone,  Westfield ;  side,  contusion.  Sergt. 
George  F.  Green,  Granville  ;  right  ear.  Sergt.  Charles  H.  Pratt, 
Tolland  ;  right  forefinger.  Sergt.  Calvin  J.  Treat,  Granville  ;  leg. 

Corp.  Daniel  W.  Bates,  Southampton ;  stomach,  contusion. 
John  W.  Brewer,  Granville ;  wrist,  slight.  Emerson  J.  Cowles, 
Westfield  ;  left  lung,  fatal.  Louis  H.  Fuller,  Northampton  ;  foot. 
Chauncey  P.  Howe,  Granville;  slight.  Michael  Horrigan,  Tol 
land;  shoulder,  severe.  Stephen  W.  Knox,  Granville ;  right  hip, 
severe.  George  Manning,  Lenox ;  abdomen,  severe.  Leroy  S. 
Oakes,  Dana ;  fingers,  slight.  Francis  Sackett,  Ashburnham ; 
hand,  severe.  George  M.  Searle,  Westfield ;  slight.  Edward  N. 
Smith,  Huutington  ;  chest,  severe.  Charles  W.  Territt,  Grauville  ; 
left  side,  severe ;  Ward  I.  Vining,  Southwick ;  finger,  slight ; 
George  Welcome,  Southwick  ;  leg,  slight.  George  Welcome,  Jr., 
Southwick;  head,  slight. 

Company  G. 

Sergt.  George  Chalmers,  Hotyoke  ;  left  leg,  flesh  wound.  George 
S.  Lombard,  Chicopee  ;  shoulder,  contusion.  Michael  Murphy, 


312  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Chicopee ;  slight.  Isaac  Smith,  Northampton ;  groin,  severe. 
"William  D.  Steele,  Chicopee ;  thigh.  Ebenezer  Sherman,  Chico 
pee  ;  slight. 

Company  H. 

Capt.  William  McKay,  Adams  ;  foot,  slight. 

Corp.  Joseph  M.  Montgomery,  Adams  ;  right  shoulder.  Dennis 
Dillworth,  Adams  ;  finger.  William  J.  Lowell,  Worcester  ;  back, 
slight. 

Company  I. 

Lieut.  William  F.  Harrington,  Pittsfield  ;  right  arm,  severe. 

Philander  Pike  ;  back,  severe.  Daniel  R.  Sanger  ;  both  thighs, 
severe.  James  Waters  ;  shoulder,  slight. 

Company  K. 

Sergt.  Charles  F.  Hale  ;  hand,  slight.  Orrin  Burliugame,  Jr.  ; 
leg,  slight.  Frederick  Gutberlet ;  right  elbow,  fatal.  Jerry  Har 
rington,  1st;  finger,  slight.  George  R.  Ring;  finger,  slight. 
Thomas  A.  Ring ;  face,  slight. 

PRISONERS. 

Sergt.  Joseph  H.  Cowles,  Company  E,  Mount  Washington. 

Private  Levi  Bosquet,  Company  E,  Becket.  Private  Chauncey 
P.  Howe,  Company  F,  Granville.  Private  Ebeuezer  Sherman, 
Company  E,  Chicopee. 

MAJOR  WILLIAM  A.  WALKER 

% 

was  born  at  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  in  1828.  His  parents, 
William  and  Elizabeth  Perley  Walker,  were  descendants  of 
New  Hampshire's  earliest  settlers,  and  were  devout  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Their  children,  however,  were 
brought  up  under  the  ministrations  of  the  Unitarian  Church, 
Rev.  A.  P.  Peabody,  pastor.  Deacon  John  Foster,  superin 
tendent  of  the  Sunday  school,  did  much  to  give  direction  and 
strength  to  Major  Walker's  character.  After  graduating  at 
Portsmouth  high  school,  he  removed  to  Boston  and  entered  the 
house  of  E.  V.  Ashton  &  Co.,  then  under  charge  of  Daniel 
Haskell,  Esq.,  who  afterwards  became  the  honored  editor  of 


OFFICERS  OF  Co.  I. 


Lieutenant   II.   SMITH  \K\VKI.I.. 


Adjutant  JOSKPH  W.  HOLMES. 


Captain  EDWARD  K.  Wn.cux. 


Adjutant  EDWARD  D.  LEK. 


Lieutenant  EDGAR  H.  COOMBS. 


CAPT.    E.    K.    WILCOX.  313 

the  Boston  "  Transcript."  Major  Walker  connected  himself 
with  the  State  militia,  and  held  a  commission  therein.  He 
was  also  deeply  interested  in  the  Boston  Mercantile  Library, 
and  at  one  time  was  its  vice-president.  From  Boston  he  re 
moved  to  Greenfield,  where  he  was  identified  with  religious 
and  educational  interests,  and  was  an  enthusiastic  worker  in 
the  Sunday  school,  and  a  valued  member  of  the  general  school 
committee.  He  was  in  active  sympathy  with  all  that  was 
intended  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  young.  When  the 
war  broke  out,  he  aided  in  the  enlistment  of  the  Greenfield 
company,  and  was  commissioned  captain,  with  assignment  to 
that  company.  He  was  at  no  time  absent  from  his  command 
upon  the  field,  save  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  from  which  place  he 
had  returned  to  camp  at  Cobb's  Hill,  expecting  to  rejoin  his 
command  the  following  morning.  Although  laboring  under 
a  presentiment  of  the  fatal  consequence  of  the  contest  at 
'Cold  Harbor,  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  column,  cheering  on 
his  men,  when  he  fell,  mortally  wounded.  Major  Walker 
wras  of  a  thoughtful  mind,  with  a  quiet  reserve,  which  was 
often  mistaken  for  coldness  and  dissociability  ;  but  to  those 
who  knew  him  best,  it  was  but  the  shrinking  of  a  refined  na 
ture  from  the  immoralities  and  repulsive  concomitants  of 
war.  He  indulged  in  no  ribaldry,  nor  tolerated  it  with  even 
tacit  approval  in  his  presence.  His  action  on  the  field 
resulted  from  principle  and  consecrated  patriotism,  rather 
than  from  a  love  of  adventure  and  recklessness.  As  a  result, 
what  he  did  was  well  done  ;  and  if  there  were  no  lustrous 
actions  to  mark  him  in  history,  neither  were  there  any  mis 
takes  or  shortcomings  for  which  to  condone. 

CAPT.  E.  K.  WILCOX. 

Edward  Kirk  Wilcox,  son  of  O.  W.  and  Mary  Ann  Wil- 
cox,  was  born  at  Springfield,  Aug.  24,  1841.  He  fitted  for 
college  at  Williston  Seminary,  Easthampton,  and  with  Alex 
ander  Hyde,  Esq.,  of  Lee,  entering  Williams  in  1858,  but 


314  TWESfTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

after  two  years  decided  upon  a  business  instead  of  a  profes 
sional  life,  and  was  temporarily  with  his  father  at  Springfield. 
He  was  of  the  first  to  enlist  at  his  country's  call,  and  mus 
tered  as  sergeant-major  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
June  21,  1861,  marching  with  them  to  the  front.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  he  was  ap 
pointed  first  lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  Company  I,  Capt. 
Henry  A.  Hubbard.  On  account  of  the  sickness  and  early 
death  of  his  captain,  he  was  in  command  of  the  company  in 
all  its  North  Carolina  service,  and  was  promoted  captain,  Feb. 
13,  1862.  Indifferent  to  danger,  he  was  a  spirited  leader, 
with  coolness  and  efficiency,  inspiring  his  men  by  his  own 
demeanor.  He  was  with  the  regiment  on  provost  duty  at 
Norfolk,  during  the  winter  of  '63  and  '64,  but  upon  the  or 
ganization  of  the  "  Red  Star  Brigade,"  was  appointed  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general  on  Brig.  Gen'l  C.  A.  Heckman's 
staff.  After  reaching  Bermuda  Hundreds,  he  was  appointed 
aide-de-camp  to  Gen'l  Weitzel  commanding  the  Second 
Division,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps,  and  participated  in  all  the 
actions  of  the  Army  of  the  James.  Of  the  battle  of  Drewry's 
Bluff,  May  16,  1864,  he  wrote,  "  It  was  the  hardest  fight  I 
ever  was  in.  How  I  escaped  I  cannot  tell,  as  I  was  under 
fire  seven  or  eight  hours  carrying  orders  into  the  thickest  of 
the  fight." 

May  17th,  Gen'l  Stannard  assumed  command  of  the  bri 
gade,  and  Capt.  Wilcox  was  transferred  to  his  staff  as  acting 
assistant  adjutant  general  First  Brigade,  First  Division, 
Eighteenth  Army  Corps.  May  30th,  the  Eighteenth  Army 
Corps  started  for  White-House  Landing,  effecting  a  junction 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Cold  Harbor  on  the  eve  of 
June  1st.  Stannard's  Brigade  was  led  immediately  into 
action,  and  its  frequent  changes  and  the  nature  of  its  ser 
vice,  rendered  Capt.  Wilcox's  duties  incessant  and  onerous. 
Says  Durfee's  "  Annals  of  Williams  College  :  "  "  It  so  hap 
pened  that  as  he  was  passing  through  his  regiment,  the  morn- 


LIEUT.    SAMUEL    MORSE.  315 

ing  of  the  3d,  a  charge  was  ordered."  Unconsciously,  this 
does  not  do  him  full  credit ;  it  did  not  happen.  Instructions 
as  to  the  charge  had  passed  through  his  hands  at  three  o'clock 
the  day  previous,  and  he  was  there  from  plan  and  purpose. 
He  placed  himself  in  front  of  the  line,  when  one  of  his  broth 
er  officers  said,  "  Coxey,  go  back  where  you  belong;  this  is 
no  place  for  you  !  "  to  which  he  replied,  "  I  am  going  with 
you ;  my  place  is  where  I  can  serve  my  country."  When 
Gen'l  Smith's  voice  rang  out  on  the  morning  air,  "  Forward  !  '* 
with  a  ringing  cheer  and  call  to  his  men,  he  dashed  forward, 
foremost  of  all.  Gaining  the  enemy's  cnrvettes,  he  dashed 
over  them  in  advance  of  the  column,  with  his  face  set  on  the 
enemy's  main  line  just  in  front,  when  he  fell  pierced  with 
a  dozen  bullets.  "  Coxey,"  as  he  was  generally  known, 
was  popular,  genial,  courteous  and  affable.  His  urbanity, 
frankness  and  kindness,  insured  lasting  friendship.  His 
often  expressed  preference  was,  that  he  might  be  allowed  to 
return  to  his  command,  and  share  with  them  the  honors  and 
dangers  of  the  field.  His  name  is  now  borne  by  Post  16, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Springfield,  Mass.,  an  excel 
lent  painting  of  him  gracing  their  hall. 

Lieut.  Samuel  Morse  enlisted  from  Chicopee  as  the  first 
sergeant  of  Company  G,  and  re-enlisted  Dec.  23,  1863.  He 
was  commissioned  as  a  second  lieutenant  Dec.  8,  1863.  We 
have  no  knowledge  of  his  parentage,  or  early  life,  but  we 
can  speak  of  him  as  a  royal  comrade.  As  a  soldier  he  was 
faithful  to  duty,  and  courageous  on  the  field ;  and  as  an 
officer  was  conspicuous  and  daring.  He  fell  at  the  extreme 
front,  beyond  the  captured  rifle-pits. 

Capt.  Moore  was  in  command  of  the  left  wing  of  the  reg 
iment,  and  to  avoid  the  leaden  hail,  dropped  upon  the  ground 
near  a  small  pine  tree ;  in  this  position  he  was  grazed  by  a 
musket-ball  on  the  left  temple  and  foot,  while  another  shot 
passed  through  his  coat  between  his  body  and  left  arm. 


316  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

Corp.  Cowles  of  Company  F,  was  lying  by  the  side  of 
Capt.  Moore,  when,  seeing  a  rebel  expose  himself  above  the 
works,  he  said,  "  Captain,  I'm  going  for  him  !  "  He  fired 
and  the  Johnnie  dropped,  but  in  an  instant  a  storm  of  bul 
lets  poured  around  him,  one  of  which  pierced  Cowles'  left 
lung.  Comrade  Cowles  died  at  the  Harwood  Hospital, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  June  27,  1874.  Corp.  Frederick  Jessi- 
man  of  Company  A,  received  a  fatal  wound  in  his  abdomen, 
and  was  the  last  member  of  that  company  present  for  duty. 
Comrade  Jessiman  was  a  faithful,  conscientious,  unassuming 
soldier.  He  died  at  White-House  Landing,  June  8,  1865, 
and  sleeps  with  the  great  army  of  "  unknown  United  States 
soldiers." 

Much  of  the  fatality  of  this  field  might  have  been  avert 
ed,  but  for  the  enemy  refusing  to  honor  a  truce  until  the 
7th,  when  the  sickening  stench  from  the  dead  compelled  them 
to  accede  to  our  request  for  "  an  opportunity  to  remove  our 
wounded,  and  bury  our  dead."  No  valid  reason  was  given 
for  this  heartless  delay,  and  the  feeling  prevailed  —  perhaps 
uncharitably  —  that  it  was  that  suffering,  exposure  and  neg 
lect,  might  complete  the  deadly  work  of  their  rifles.  Vari 
ous  expedients  were  resorted  to  for  removing  our  wounded, 
some  being  reached  under  cover  of  darkness,  others  aided 
by  comrades  who  crept  up  to  them,  and  though  forced  to  re 
main  prostrate,  aided  them  to  the  rear.  Others  were  so  far  to 
the  front,  and  so  covered  by  the  enemy's  fire,  that  trenching 
was  resorted  to,. while  now  and  then  some  brave  soldier 
picked  up  a  wounded  comrade,  and  by  a  wonderful  provi 
dence,  reached  the  rear  unharmed.  Over  the  crash  of  arms 
came  the  wail  of  the  wounded,  with  cries  for  aid,  and  many 
efforts  were  made  to  relieve  their  wants.  The  great  cry  was 
for  water,  "  Give  me  some  water!  "  "  Oh  !  if  I  only  had 
some  water!"  for  the  pain  of  the  wound  is  often  forgotten 
in  the  thirst  caused  by  the  loss  of  blood.  Canteens  of  water 
were  thrown  to  our  suffering  comrades  where  possible,  and 


TRYING    TO    AID    OUR   WOUNDED.  317 

handkerchiefs  or  lint  attached  to  sticks  and  stones  cast  to 
them  for  use.  Everything  was  done  which  ingenuity  or 
bravery  could  devise,  to  relieve  their  sufferings,  and  many 
heroic  acts  might  be  narrated,  were  it  not  invidious  where 

O 

all  were  heroes.  Every  effort  to  succor  the  wounded  was  at 
the  peril  of  the  life  or  limb  of  him  who  made  it. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  we  met,  and  went  into  action  under 
the  eyes  of  two  home  regiments.  Gen'l  Eustis'  Brigade,  of 
Getty's  Division,  Sixth  Corps,  consisted  of  the  Seventh, 
Tenth  and  Thirty-Seventh  Mass.,  and  Second  llhode  Island 
Regiments.  The  Tenth  Mass,  were  completing  their  term 
of  enlistment,  with  thirteen  engagements  inscribed  on  their 
standard,  and  a  record  of  which  they  were  justly  proud. 
Their  experience  from  the  outset  had  been  with  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  having  shared  its  varied  fortunes.  The  Thirty- 
Seventh  Mass.,  Col.  Oliver  Edwards,  left  the  State  Sept.  7, 
1862,  and  though  younger  by  sixteen  months  than  the  Tenth 
Mass.,  its  record  challenged  any  claim  of  precedence  or  ex 
cessive  valor  by  its  elder.  Its  escutcheons  already  bore  the 
hard  contested  fields  of  Fredericksburg,  Salem  Heights, 
Gettysburg,  Wilderness  and  Spottsylvania,  with  many  of 
lesser  note,  and  was  destined  to  bear  all  the  future  contests 
of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  until  a  glorious  victory  should 
crown  their  labors.  These  regiments  for  the  first  time  were 
permitted  to  see  the  mettle  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass., 
and  exulted  in  its  valor  with  a  pride  akin  to  that  awakened 
by  their  own  achievements.  Said  one  of  the  members  of 
the  Thirty-Seventh  Regiment  to  the  writer,  "It  was  one 
of  the  most  terrible  charges  I  ever  witnessed,  and,  as  I 
saw  great  gaps  in  your  line  closed  up,  and  the  terrible 
struggle  against  that  desolating  fire  continued,  my  manhood 
deserted  me.  I  gave  away  to  tears, — tears  of  sorrow  for 
the  terrible  carnage  ;  tears  of  pride  that  we  boasted  a  com 
mon  ancestry." 


318          t  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

Thus  closed  a  month  that  had  told  fearfully  on  our  effec 
tive  and  numerical  strength.  May  4th  we  left  Yorktown 
with  seven  hundred  and  forty-four  men  for  duty,  but  at  roll- 
call  the  night  of  June  3d,  only  five  officers  and  seventy- 
eight  men  responded  to  their  names.  Two  hundred  and 
thirty  had  been  killed  or  wounded,  two  hundred  fifty-three 
taken  prisoners,  leaving  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  who 
had  broken  down  in  service,  or  were  on  detached  duty,  as 
pioneers,  teamsters,  in  the  ordinance  department  or  ambu 
lance  corps.  Many  of  the  "special  duty  men"  were  now 
called  back  to  the  regiment,  so  that  by  the  7th  inst.,  four  offi 
cers  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  men  reported  for  duty. 
After  being  relieved  the  evening  of  the  3d,  we  rejoined 
our  division  at  the  centre  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  occupying 
advance  fortifications,  and  exposed  to  continual  fire,  which 
made  necessary  unusual  care  in  moving  about  our  position. 
During  the  night  the  enemy  made  several  sorties  and  kept 
up  a  merciless  fire,  causing  Capt.  Caswell,  now  commanding 
the  regiment,  to  send  for  reinforcements.  We  succeeded, 
however,  in  holding  our  position  unaided  during  the  night. 
We  were  sharply  engaged  during  much  of  the  4th,  and 
Lieut.  E.  H.  Coombs  fell  mortally  wounded,  with  Thomas 
W.  Norton  of  (Springfield)  Co.  E,  wounded  in  the  thigh, 
and  John  R.  Ryan  of  (Lee)  Co.  E,  wounded  in  the  foot. 

LIEUT.  EDGAR  H.  COOMBS, 

Or,  as  he  was  better  known,  "  Sergt.  Coombs,"  was  mus 
tered  into  the  United  States  service,  from  Lee,  Oct.  1,  1861, 
as  first  sergeant  of  Company  E,  and  re-enlisted  Dec.  23, 
1863.  He  was  an  active  participant  in  all  the  engagements 
of  our  regiment,  and  hitherto  had  escaped  unharmed. 
He  had  just  received  a  commission  as  second  lieutenant, 
dated  April  18,  1864,  but  under  which  he  had  not  mustered. 
While  sitting  behind  a  tree,  drinking  a  cup  of  coffee,  a  rifle- 


LIEUT.    FEED.    C.    WRIGHT.  319 

ball  glanced  from  a  limb  above  and  crushed  through  his 
skull,  near  the  coronal  suture,  sinking  into  the  brain.  He 
was  removed  to  the  regimental  hospital,  but  all  efforts  to 
arouse  him  from  carus  seemed  fruitless,  until  his  friend 
Amos  F.  Whittaker  began  removing  his  valuables  for  safe 
keeping.  As  a  ring  was  being  taken  from  his  little  finger, 
he  gave  the  only  sign  of  consciousness,  by  rubbing  his 
thumb  over  the  place  where  it  had  been.  Its  associations 
could  only  be  surmised,  but  his  thoughts  evidently  clustered 
around  it  to  his  latest  moments.  After  a  few  hours  of  un 
conscious  suffering,  he  passed  away,  and  his  body  was  buried 
upon  the  field.  He  rests  with  the  great  army  of  the  "  un 
known,"  but  there  is  no  more  sacred  vault  for  the  nation's 
martyred  dead  than  the  fields  which  their  deeds  and  life- 
blood  have  consecrated. 

June  5th,  as  Lieut.  F.  C.  Wright,  acting  adjutant  of  the 
regiment,  was  engaged  in  the  defence  of  our  position,  a  rifle- 
ball  inflicted  a  fatal  wound  in  his  right  thigh. 

LIEUT.  FREDERICK  CLARK  WRIGHT 

Was  born  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  March  25,  1839.  He 
was  the  fourth  son  of  Ansel  and  Elizabeth  Bullens  Wright, 
and  was  in  direct  descent  from  the  earliest  settlers  of  Mas 
sachusetts  Colony.  His  early  life  was  shaded  by  years  of 
sickness  and  debility,  retarding  his  development  physically 
and  intellectually.  Later  he  overcame  his  physical  weak 
ness,  rapidly  acquiring  proficiency  equal  to  his  years,  and 
becoming  a  general  favorite  with  his  companions  in  the 
militia  and  fire  companies  of  his  native  town.  In  the  hour 
of  his  country's  need,  impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty,  and  in 
sympathy  with  a  popular  movement,  he  found  little  difficulty 
in  deciding  his  course.  He  was  mustered  into  service  June 
21,  1861,  as  a  private  of  Company  C,  Tenth  Mass.  Regt. 
Vol.  Infantry,  and  went  with  them  to  the  front.  Serving  in 


320          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  ranks  until  October,  1861,  he  received  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant,  with  assignment  to  Company  G,  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  and  also  Oct.  30,  1862,  merited  pro 
motion  to  first  lieutenant  of  Company  K.  Duty  with  him 
was  pre-eminent,  and  was  discharged  from  a  high  sense  of 
honor  and  patriotism. 

Lieut.  Wright  was  popular  as  an  officer  and  associate,  and 
with  those  intimate  with  him  the  opinion  prevailed  that  in 
his  subordinate  position  he  was  hardly  at  his  best.  Whether 
as  a  company  officer,  acting  adjutant,  quartermaster,  or 
"  chief  of  harbor  police  "  at  Norfolk,  Ya.,  he  was  more  than 
ordinarily  efficient  and  successful.  In  action  he  was  cool 
and  daring,  and  never  willingly  away  when  his  regiment 
was  engaged  in  battle.  Absent  at  the  beginning  of  the  siege 
of  Little  Washington,  he  was  satisfied  only  when  he  had  run 
the  enemy's  batteries  and  rejoined  his  company.  At  Drewry's 
Bluff,  when  most  of  the  regiment,  and  his  own  company, 
were  captured,  he  bravely  fought  his  way  out,  escaping  with 
a  trifling  wound  in  the  ankle.  June  3d  he  was  in  the  thick 
est  of  the  battle,  and  now  fell  at  the  extreme  front.  As  he 
was  borne  to  the  rear,  an  officer  of  the  regiment  exclaimed, 
with  tears,  "  One  more  of  our  bravest  and  best !  "  His  wound 
was  dressed  without  removing  the  ball,  by  Surgeon  Fish,  one 
of  his  closest  friends,  and  from  the  first  was  considered  mor 
tal.  He  was  removed  to  Arlington  Hospital,  Arlington,  Va. , 
where  he  was  attended  by  his  brother,  Ansel  Wright.  Later, 
typhoid  pneumonia  intervened,  which,  with  the  weakness 
and  exhaustion  caused  by  his  wound,  terminated  his  life, 
June  27,  1864.  His  body  was  taken  to  his  native  town, 
and  buried  with  civic  and  masonic  honors. 

The  enemy  continued  a  brisk  fire  upon  our  position,  the 
5th  and  6th  of  June,  with  several  fruitless  attempts  to  dis 
lodge  our  men.  The  reply  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  was, 
however,  as  sharp  as  the  assault,  and  held  the  enemy  in 
check  along  our  front.  Finding  it  impossible  to  dislodge  us, 


TRUCE  TO  BURY  THE  DEAD.  321 

the  enemy  opened  with  mortars,  dropping  shell  in  uncom 
fortable  proximity,  and  interfering  seriously  with  the  move 
ment  of  our  ammunition  and  supplies.  Bombproofs  and 
gopher  holes  were  constructed  to  protect  those  not  on 
duty,  and  these  men,  while  safely  ensconced  in  their  retreat, 
indulged  in  laughter  and  wit  over  the  unceremonious  move 
ments  and  shy  ings  of  comrades  along  the  works. 

There  is  a  flexibility  in  man  which  yields  to  the  unavoid 
able,  relieving  much  of  its  sufferings,  and  extracting  sweet 
from  every  bitter  experience.  This  adaptation  of  our  sol 
diers  to  varied  experiences,  with  a  perennial  flow  of  good 
humor,  gave  stamina  and  courage  to  the  army.  The  effects 
of  the  battle  must  terminate  with  the  battle,  in  order  to 
nerve  the  men  for  future  conflicts.  Soldiers,  like  machines, 
are  not  to  question,  but  obey.  Manhood  and  intellect  were 
subordinated,  in  enlistment,  to  a  great  end.  Others  were  to 
think  and  direct.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  intelligence 
and  thoughtfulness  made  better  soldiers,  as  comprehending 
the  importance  of  movements  contemplated,  yet  it  is  the 
duty  of  a  soldier  to  act,  and  not  ask  the  reason,  why? 

After  sharp  skirmishing  on  the  7th,  the  enemy  agreed 
to  a  truce  for  burying  the  dead ;  only  two  hours  were 
allowed  for  this  sad  and  herculean  task.  Four  days  of 
sun  and  rain,  with  the  severe  heat  of  summer,  had  passed 
over  our  slain,  and  the  air  was  laden  with  insufferable 
putrescence.  We  breathed  it  in  every  breath,  tasted  it  in 
the  food  we  ate  and  water  we  drank.  What  seemed  intol 
erable  to  us,  was  doubly  so  to  the  enemy,  from  their 
nearness  to  the  dead,  and  from  the  fact  that  the  prevailing 
winds,  wafting  over  the  field,  carried  the  fumes  directly 
to  them.  The  granting  of  the  truce  was  a  necessity  rather 
than  a  virtue.  Along  the  lines  white  flags  were  flying, 
and  the  enemy,  with  little  else  to  do,  were  lounging  about, 
with  coarse  and  unfeeling  jokes,  such  as,  "You  uns  got 
it  right  smart,  I  reckon."  Corp.  Weiser,  of  Company  F, 


322  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

and  six  men  were  detailed  to  assist  in  the  sepulchral 
work,  and,  under  Surgeon  Fish,  repaired  to  the  scene  of 
our  contest  of  June  3d. 

The  ground  was  strewn  with  bloated  and  discolored  forms, 
every  feature  so  distorted  that  recognition  from  this  source 
was  impossible.  Major  Walker's  body  was  found  lying  in 
front  of  the  advance  line  of  works,  head  to  the  foe,  and  was 
recognized  by  Surgeon  Fish  by  his  haversack  and  by  papers  in 
his  pockets.  He  called  a  party  of  bearers,  engaged  in  re 
moving  the  dead,  and  placed  the  body  on  a  stretcher.  The 
surgeon  then  turned  to  an  officer  near  by  to  ask  "where  they 
were  burying  the  officers,"  but  on  looking  back  found  to  his 
distress  that  the  bearers  had  disappeared  with  the  body. 
Midst  the  rapid-moving  crowd  it  was  impossible  to  recognize 
the  parties  bearing  the  body,  and  every  means  to  recover 
the  remains  proved  unavailing.  It  was  impossible  to  cen 
sure  any  one,  as  decomposition  had  progressed  so  far  as  to 
leave  the  remains  in  a  loathsome  state.  Capt.  Wilcox's 
body  was  recovered,  and  buried  by  members  of  Gen'l  Stan- 
nard's  staff.  Lieut.  Morse  was  also  identified  and  buried. 

The  recognition  of  the  private  soldiers  was  almost  impos 
sible  from  the  similarity  of  uniforms,  excessive  decomposi 
tion,  and  the  great  haste  required.  Unless  papers  or  orna 
ments  on  their  persons  revealed  their  identity,  they  were 
buried  as  "  Unknown."  Now  and  then  some  poor  wounded 
one  was  found,  in  all  the  horrors  of  a  living  death.  For 
four  long  days  and  nights  they  had  remained  upon  that 
field,  with  ghastly  wounds,  without  food,  water  or  care,  and 
surrounded  by  remains  exuding  a  stifling  stench.  Who  can 
depict  the  terrible  sufferings  of  those  long,  long  hours  of 
horror,  or  the  intense  joy  with  which  —  if  reason  was  not 
unthroned  —  they  received  the  rough  but  hearty  care  now 
given  them  ?  Nature  gave  but  few  the  endurance  to  bridge 
such  an  awful  chasm,  so  that  the  work  was  chiefly  with  the 
dead.  Long  trenches  were  dug,  in  which  they  were  laid, 


MEANS  TO  RECOGNIZE  THE  DEAD.  323 

side   by  side,  with    such   winding-sheets  as  their  blankets 
afforded. 

"  The  old  army  blanket,  the  shroud-destined  blanket, 
Which  e'en  to  the  last  served  the  martyr  so  well."  —  Peck. 

As  the  sepulchral  work  progressed,  the  notes  of  a  dirge 
unutterably  mournful  and  sad,  came  floating  over  the  field 
from  the  bands  within  our  lines.  This  requiem  was  our  only 
service  for  the  dead. 

The  utmost  haste  failed  to  entomb  the  immense  mass  of 
our  slain,  before  a  signal-gun  gave  notice  that  the  "truce  had 
expired."  At  the  next  gun  the  dogs  of  war  would  be  let 
loose  upon  any  remaining  on  the  field,  and  hence  our  burial 
party  hastily  retired.  A  few  moments  later  we  were  again 
engaged  in  the  deadly  fray.  Those  comrades  participating 
in  the  burial  were  so  overcome  by  the  stench  as  to  be  unfit 
for  duty  for  several  days.  From  the  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  thousand  graves  of  the  "Unknown"  buried  on  our 
battle-fields  and  in  our  national  cemeteries,  comes  the  de 
mand  that  our  country  should  adopt  some  expedient  for  the 
recognition  of  her  dead ;  if  no  better,  the  affixing  of  an 
official  number  to  their  names  at  state  and  national  head 
quarters,  which  number  should  be  attached  to  some  pro 
tected  portion  of  the  clothing  of  each  man,  as  a  means  of 
identification.  This  method  was  adopted  during  the  last 
Prussian  war,  with  good  results.  It  had  been  the  practice 
with  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  when  in  camp,  to  write  the 
name  of  the  deceased,  and,  after  enclosing  it  in  a  vial  se 
curely  corked,  to  bury  it  with  the  remains.  This  plan  had 
also  been  adopted  by  the  Fifth  Corps  Hospital  under  Dr. 
Reams.  Such  a  practice  throughout  our  army,  or  better, 
perhaps,  the  two  plans  combined,  would  have  made  it  pos 
sible  to  have  recognized  all  our  dead  upon  the  field  or  in  the 
subsequent  work  of  gathering  them  into  national  cemeteries. 


324  TWE \TY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

To  narrate  the  experiences  of  each  day  would  be  to  repeat 
the  story  of  marchings  and  countermarchings  from  front  to 
rear,  and  from  right  to  left,  subjected  to  a  fire  which  was 
hardly  less  annoying  at  the  rear  than  at  the  front.  "  Spent 
balls  "  at  the  rear  were  glancing  and  richochetting  in  every 
direction,  and  "mortar  shells"  dropping  where  and  when 
least  expected  ;  from  neither  of  which  could  we  find  full 
protection.  At  the  front  the  shots  came  direct,  and,  with 
watchfulness,  the  rifle-pits  were  effective  defence  against 
them.  There  is  no  doubt  that  our  terrible  repulse  had  given 
Gen'l  Lee's  army  new  courage  and  prestige.  Flaming  tele 
grams  and  dispatches  were  constantly  being  sent  to  Rich- 
inond,  recounting  the  courage  and  victories  of  their  troops, 
with  the  terrible  carnage  suffered  by  the  Yankees.  On  the 
evening  of  June  9th,  a  rebel  band  in  Longstreet's  Corps 
came  to  the  front,  and  in  a  tantalizing  way  discoursed  their 
national  airs,  which  were  responded  to  by  Union  bands  with 
our  national  airs  and  "  Rally  round  the  Flag."  This  music 
was  as  good  as  medicine  to  our  worn  troops,  and  for  a  time 
the  sound  of  strife  gave  place  to  a  musical  soiree: 

"  Her  unoffending  charms 
Had  quelled  the  savage  clash  of  arms." 

Our  position,  the  evening  of  the  9th,  was  within  pistol-shot 
of  the  enemy,  the  shells  of  both  forces  rushing  a  mad  race 
over  our  heads.  The  previous  night  one  officer  and  thirteen 
men  had  been  killed  or  wounded  here  by  one  of  our  own 
shells  ;  and  the  consequent  insecurity  of  this  position  was 
not  at  all  reassuring.  The  Eighty-Ninth  New  York  Volun 
teer  Regiment  of  infantry,  an  old  acquintance  of  the  Burn- 
side  Expedition,  had  now  been  added  to  the  Star  Brigade, 
giving  it  an  effective  strength  of  about  nine  hundred  men. 
With  this  addition  we  were  able  to  hold  our  position  against 
the  most  determined  assaults  of  the  enemy.  Joseph  Mattis 


SANITARY    AND    CHRISTIAN    COMMISSIONS.  325 

of  Windsor,  Company  E,  was  wounded  during  the  day  by  a 
musket-ball  upon  the  head  and  right  ear.  June  llth  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  was  detailed  as  sharpshooters, 
relieving  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth  New  York 
Regiment  of  kSted man's  Brigade.  We  soon  acquainted  our 
selves  with  the  positions  and  tricks  of  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters,  who,  like  many  of  our  men,  were  in  the  trees, 
picking  off  any  who  showed  their  heads  above  the  defences. 
It  was  the  work  of  only  a  few  moments  to  place  every  tree 
under  surveillance,  and  every  puff  under  the  cover  of  a 
dozen  muskets.  It  was  "  Greek  mit  Greek"  the  entire  day, 
in  which  our  men  providentially  escaped  unharmed. 

Volumes  of  thrilling  interest  might  be  written  of  the  work 
of  comfort  and  consolation  by  the  Sanitary  and  Christian 
Commissions,  during  these  days  of  our  country's  peril.  The 
Sanitary  Commission  gave  material  aid,  and  prepared  the 
way  for  the  other.  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Bellows,  it  is  said,  was 
the  original  mover  for  this  Commission,  and  when  he  pre 
sented  the  matter  to  Secretary  of  War  Stanton,  the  latter 
received  him  coldly,  saying,  "I  hate  philanthropists!" 
Dr.  Bellows  quickly  replied,  "  And  I  hate  generals  !  But  I 
mean  bogus  generals,  and  you  mean  bogus  philanthropists." 
Stanton's  opposition  was  thus  disarmed,  and  an  order  per 
mitting  its  work  granted.  It  was  henceforth  the  great  chan 
nel  through  which  the  homes  of  the  North  reached  their  sons 
in  the  field.  The  supplies  offered  through  this  medium  were 
as  broad  and  deep  as  the  love  and  patriotism  of  the  loyal  North. 
While  the  main  object  of  the  Sanitary  Commission  was  to 
relieve  suffering,  it  also  sought  to  prevent  sickness  by  con 
tributions  for  those  in  active  service.  Large  quantities  of 
vegetables  were  forwarded  to  the  front  to  relieve  a  tendency 
to  disease,  which  the  want  of  them  had  caused.  The  work 
of  the  Christian  Commission  was  to  minister  to  the  religious 
wants  of  the  army,  supplementing  the  work  of  the  chaplains, 
and  supplying  their  place  when  there  were  none.  Their  dis- 


326          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

tinctive  field  was  in  the  hospitals,  or  among  the  wounded  at 
the  rear.  Kneeling  beside  the  sick  or  wounded  to  assuage 
pain,  they  extended  the  consolations  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
and  supplicated  for  spirits  passing  into  eternity.  They  re 
ceived  the  last  message  and  token  for  the  loved  ones  at 
home ;  tenderly  holding  the  hand  as  the  spirit  fled,  and 
closing  the  eyes  in  its  last  long  sleep.  Many  a  home  was 
cheered  through  them  by  news  from  the  wounded,  and  re 
joiced  that  there  were  those  willing  to  do  the  work  — in  the 
name  of  the  Master,  —  which  they  were  denied  the  oppor 
tunity  to  do. 

The  results  of  June  3d,  proving  that  Richmond  could 
not  be  taken  in  that  direction,  led  Gen'l  Grant  to  decide 
on  a  movement  which  had  been  contemplated  from  the 
first ;  —  that  of  uniting  the  Armies  of  the  Potomac  and 
James.  Burnside's  and  Warren's  Corps  were  successively 
withdrawn  from  the  right,  and  placed  in  reserve,  short 
ening  our  front  to  four  miles,  and  leaving  the  Eighteenth 
Corps  as  the  right  flank.  Sheridan's  Cavalry  were  started 
off,  as  a  diversion,  to  destroy  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad, 
and  co-operate  with  Gen'l  Hunter  at  Lynchburg ;  while  our 
line  was  gradually  advanced  as  if  intending  another  assault. 
June  12th,  the  army  formed  almost  a  square,  with  its  left 
resting  upon  the  Chickahominy,  and  its  position  strongly 
entrenched.  Early  in  the  evening,  Wilson's  Cavalry  and 
the  Fifth  Corps  were  moved  across  the  Chickahominy  at 
Long  Bridge,  and  strongly  posted  through  White  Oak  Swamp. 
The  rest  of  the  army  —  save  the  Eighteenth  Corps — fol 
lowed  quietly  and  rapidly,  and  reached  the  James  River  at 
Wilcox  Landing,  without  opposition,  June  15th.  The  Eigh 
teenth  Corps  also  received  instructions  to  return  to  White 
House  Landing  where  transports  were  awaiting  them.  A 
strong  line  of  cavalry,  with  horses  tethered  conveniently  near, 
replaced  the  infantry  along  the  entire  front,  and  continued 
the  contest  until  nearly  dawn,  when  they  hastily  mounted 


AN    IMPORTANT    MOVEMENT.  327 

and  pressed  after  the  column  to  the  James.  So  stealthy  and 
successful  was  the  movement,  that  no  suspicion  entered  the 
mind  of  Gen'l  Lee  of  our  intention,  until  the 
revealed  our  deserted  fields. 


328  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

SIEGE     OF    PETERSBURG. 

AT  nine  o'clock,  the  evening  of  June  12th,  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  quietly  abandoned  the  position  last  noted  at 
Cold  Harbor,  and  made  a  forced  march  of  twenty  miles  through 
suffocating  dust,  arriving  at  White-House  Landing  at  six 
o'clock,  the  morning  of  the  13th.  Here  \ve  lay  down  upon 
the  grass  under  cover  of  the  gunboats,  enjoying  refreshing 
and  needed  rest ;  when,  late  in  the  afternoon,  we  embarked 
upon  the  steamer  "  Claymont."  Stiff  and  sore  from  the 
march  of  the  previous  night,  and  worn  by  continuous  ser 
vice,  the  men  threw  themselves  upon  the  deck  and  were  soon 
unconscious  of  the  heat  of  the  sun,  or  the  varied  scenery 
through  which  they  passed.  During  the  inarch  to  White- 
House  Landing,  Peter  WTilson  was  taken  prisoner,  but 
eluded  the  vigilance  of  his  captors,  and  made  his  way  to  the 
Sixth  Corps  on  their  march  to  the  James,  and  rejoined  our 
regiment  before  Petersburg.  The  fleet  rendezvoused  at 
Yorktown  till  three  A.M.,  the  14th,  passed  Fortress  Monroe 
two  hours  later,  Fort  Powhattan,  a  relic  of  1607,  about  three 
P.M.  ;  and  Harrison's  Landing  at  five  P  M.,  arriving  at  Broad 
way  Landing  about  nine  P.M.,  where  the  troops  immediately 
debarked. 

The  criticism  that  this  change  of  base  was  a  tacit  admis 
sion  of  defeat,  and  that  Gen'l  Grant  could  have  reached 
City  Point  without  loss,  instead  of  sacrificing  eighty  thou 
sand  men,  while  having  the  humanity  of  the  argument,  loses 
sight  of  the  following  material  considerations  :  the  necessity 


CONFIDENCE  RESTORED.  329 

of  re-establishing  confidence  in  our  arms  ;  of  crushing  the 
esprit  de  corps,  the  numerical  force,  and  the  material  re 
sources  of  the  enemy ;  and  also  that  the  movement  now 
made  was  contemplated  from  the  first.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  for  more  than  a  year,  had  gone  into  battle  with 
a  depressing  doubt,  rather  than  with  the  inspiration  and 
expectation  of  victory.  They  were  invincible  against,  but 
insufficient  for  victorious  assault.  In  the  field  the  armies 
had  met  like  two  opposing  seas,  and  in  the  recoil  each  had 
suffered  so  severely  that  at  the  most  it  could  only  be  claimed 
"  they  had  checked  the  enemy."  The  Confederates  had 
unbounded  confidence  in  their  commanding  general,  and 
in  spite  of  misfortunes,  contemptuously  left  our  army  in  its 
defences  along  the  Rappahannock,  and  annually  engaged  in 
devastating  raids  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  They 
were  equal  to  any  sacrifice,  and  fearlessly  coped  with  any 
-force,  with  an  enthusiasm  seemingly  beyond  the  reach  of 
our  arms. 

Before  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  all  this  had  been  re 
versed.  Invincibility  and  valor  were  now  the  animating 
spirits  of  the  Union  army,  and  while  the  rebel  army  fought 
fiercely,  they  refused  a  contest  save  with  the  greatest  odds, 
or  behind  the  strongest  fortifications.  Gen'l  Grant's  instruc 
tions  to  Gen'l  Butler  were  also  significant,  as  appears  from  his 
words,  .  .  .  "the  necessity  of  covering  Washington  .  .  . 
makes  it  impossible  to  unite  the  forces  at  the  beginning  of 

any  move Should  the  enemy  be  forced  into  their 

intrenchments  in  Richmond,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
would  follow,  and  by  means  of  transports,  the  two  armies 
would  become  a  unit."  With  Lee's  original  force  around 
the  city  of  Petersburg,  we  could  not  have  secured  or  held  a 
foothold  before  its  fortifications.  All  was  now  changed,  for, 
when  trusting  on  shorter  lines  to  strengthen  threatened 
points,  Lee  detached  a  corps  for  the  annual  raid  upon  Mary 
land,  he  found  his  arm  paralyzed  and  the  attempted  diver- 


330  TWENTY- SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

sion  futile.  The  confidence  and  numerical  strength  of  the 
rebel  army  were  destroyed,  and  though  it  was  capable  of 
effective  defence,  the  struggle  was  continued,  as  Gen'l  Lee 
admitted,  only  to  improve  the  terms  of  surrender. 

At  two  o'clock  A.M.  June  15th,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Regt.,  with  the  Star  Brigade,  moved  across  the  Appomattox 
River  on  pontons  at  Point  of  Rocks,  the  Twenty-Fifth  Mass, 
in  advance.  Here  the  Eighteenth  Corps  united  with  Hincks' 
Colored  and  Kautz'  Cavalry  Divisions,  the  entire  force  being 
under  command  of  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith,  with  Peters 
burg  as  its  objective  point.  After  some  delay,  Kautz'  Cav 
alry  moved  to  the  left,  well  out  to  the  Norfolk  and  Peters 
burg  Railroad ;  Hincks'  Division  to  the  Jordan  Point  turn 
pike,  supported  by  Brooks'  Second  Division ,  Eighteenth 
Army  Corps  ;  while  Martindale's  First  Division,  with  the 
Star  Brigade  at  the  front,  followed  the  Appomattox  or 
Petersburg  turnpike.  With  this  arrangement,  the  force  ad 
vanced  without  opposition  until  about  nine  o'clock,  when 
Martindale's  Division  encountered  the  enemy's  pickets  near 
the  railroad  crossing,  and  slowly  drove  them  to  their  works. 
Our  whole  force  was  deployed  and  advanced  in  line  of 
battle,  each  organization  furnishing  its  own  skirmishers. 
Martindale's  right  rested  near  the  Appomattox  River,  fol 
lowed  in  order  by  Brooks  and  Hincks,  with  Kautz'  Cav 
alry  at  the  left  flank.  We  advanced  through  tangled 
thickets,  swamps,  ravines  and  open  undulating  fields,  until 
a  shell  from  the  front  warned  us  that  we  were  approaching 
the  rebel  defences. 

The  Star  Brigade  was  on  the  right  of  the  City  Point  Rail 
road  and  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  upon  the  left  of  the 
turnpike,  about  two  miles  from  Petersburg,  whose  spires 
were  visible  from  our  position.  Cautiously  advancing 
through  a  considerable  thicket,  we  emerged  into  an  open 
field,  half  a  mile  from  and  in  full  view  of  the  enemy's 
works.  On  a  bluff'  at  the  left  was  a  fort  commanding  the 


ARRIVAL  BEFORE  PETERSBURG,  VA.          331 

mil  road,  known  to  the  enemy  as  Battery  Five,  which  opened 
a  fierce  fire  of  shot,  shell  and  canister  upon  us  as  we  ad 
vanced.  An  hour  later  we  moved  at  double-quick  across  a 
deep  ditch  into  a  position  covered  by  a  slight  elevation  with 
scattering  timber,  to  avoid  the  enemy's  fire,  which  had 
already  inflicted  a  loss  upon  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass. 
Regt.  of  eleven  men  severely  wounded.  Among  the  first 
wounded  was  Corp.  H.  H.  Weiser,  Company  F,  Westfield, 
whose  arm  was  shattered  by  a  cannon-ball  near  the  shoulder, 
inflicting  a  mortal  wound.  The  opposing  works  consisted  of 
strong  redans  connected  with  Battery  Five  on  the  bluff  by 
a  line  of  rifle-pits.  The  field  intervening  was  a  low  meadow 
cut  by  ditches  and  ravines,  with  the  railroad  piercing  it  at 
the  left,  and  was  completely  covered  by  hostile  guns.  The 
position  was  naturally  strong,  and  if  defended  by  a  deter 
mined  force,  could  have  been  carried  only  by  most  desperate 
valor  and  frightful  carnage.  The  enemy's  centre  and  left 
were  even  stronger  than  in  front  of  Martindale's  Divi 
sion. 

The  surroundings  and  defences  were  so  entirely  different 
from  that  indicated  in  information  given  Gen'l  Smith,  that 
it  required  considerable  time  to  arrange  our  forces  for  as 
sault.  The  distance  intervening  between  the  armies  was  such 
that  infantry  was  yet  unavailable,  and  the  crossing  of  such  a 
field  so  forbidding,  that  Gen'l  Smith  deemed  it  prudent  to 
delay  attack  until  the  arrival  of  our  artillery,  which,  unfortu 
nately,  did  not  reach  us  till  about  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  The  troops  were  forced  to  hold  position,  mean 
time,  under  a  terrific  fire  from  Battery  Five,  and  a  battery 
of  Napoleon  guns  in  the  meadow  on  the  banks  of  the  Appo- 
mattox  River,  at  our  right,  the  latter  enfilading  our  posi 
tion. 

During  this  delay  narrated,  Private  H of  Company 

— ,  of  our  regiment,  was  sitting  in  the  shade  with  his 
back  to  the  enemy,  about  ten  feet  from  where  Gen'l  Stan- 


332          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

nard  was  standing.     Against  the  jeers  of  his  comrades,  and 

in  spite  of  the  fatigue,  H had  clung  to  his  knapsack  in 

all  our  movements,  and  at  this  time  had  it  strapped  upon 
his  back.  A  six-pound  shot  came  ricochetting  along  the 
ground,  hitting  the  knapsack,  and  sending  its  owner  sprawl 
ing  upon  the  ground.  On  picking  himself  up,  H ,  in  a 

wild,  confused  manner,  felt  for  his  head  and  then  his  knap 
sack,  and,  to  the  boys'  assurance  that  he  was  still  safe,  re 
sponded  with  a  sickly  smile.  Gen'l  Stannard,  seeing  he  was 
all  right,  exclaimed,  "  That's  a  mighty  lucky  knapsack,  boy  !  " 

"  Yes,"  responded  H ,  "  and  I  always  carry  it !  "     There 

was  no  use  of  arguing  the  knapsack  question  with  H 

after  that. 

A  cloud  of  battle  still  crested  the  enemy's  works,  when, 
at  seven  o'clock,  a  battery  of  twelve-pounders  at  our  left 
and  rear,  opened  upon  the  enemy.  This  was  a  battery  from 
Hancock's  Corps,  and  its  perfect  execution  was  greeted  with 
most  enthusiastic  cheers.  Under  cover  of  this  fire  Gen'l 
Smith,  to  save  slaughter  by  a  movement  in  force,  advanced 
a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  from  each  division,  with  instruc 
tion  to  force  the  enemy's  position  if  possible.  Advancing 
at  double-quick,  under  a  terrible  fire,  they  cleared  the 
ditches,  ravines,  and  meadow,  forward  and  onward,  until, 
to  the  surprise  of  all,  they  scaled  the  enemy's  works  and 
turned  the  captured  guns  on  the  retreating  foe.  A  shout  of 
victory  rent  the  air,  and  the  entire  force  sprang  forward  with 
an  enthusiastic  rush  to  their  support.  The  Star  Brigade 
captured  the  redans  on  their  front  and  two  Napoleon  guns. 
Hincks'  Colored  Division  fought  nobly,  capturing  the  works 
on  their  front  and  several  hundred  prisoners.  Burnham's 
Brigade  captured  Battery  Five  on  the  bluif,  with  two  hun 
dred  prisoners  and  eleven  guns.  It  \vas  now  quite  dark, 
and  for  reasons  which  will  appear,  Gen'l  Smith  gave  orders 
to  hold  our  position  and  bivouac  for  the  night.  The  casual- 


WOUNDED     JUNE    FIFTEENTH.  333 

ties  of  the  Twenty-Seventh    Mass.   Regt.    during   the  day 
were  : 

Capt.  William  McKay  ;  left  side  ;  slight. 

Company  B.  —  Corp.  William  B.  W.  Bliss,  New  Salem  ;  contu 
sion,  leg. 

Company  C.  —  Silas  Cowles,  Haclley  ;  through  both  hips  ;  fatal. 
Sidney  Davis,  Northampton  ;  slight.  Madison  R.  Olds,  Hadley  ; 
contusion,  left  thigh. 

Company  E.  —  William  A.  Keep,  Otis  ;  contusion,  right  foot. 
Company  F.  —  Corp.  H.  IT.  Weiser,  Westfleld  ;  right  arm  ;  fatal. 
Company    G.  —  Ephraim    Wilson,    Pittsfiold ;     contusion,    left 
shoulder. 

Company  H.  —  Corp.  Joseph  H.  Montgomery,  Adams;  contu 
sion,  thigh. 

Company  K.  —  Charles  A.  Willard,  Springfield  ;  left  leg,  severe. 

While  the  Eighteenth  Corps  had  been  thus  engaged,  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  had  succeeded  in  reaching  James 
River  at  Wilcox  Landing  without  material  opposition,  and 
were  crossing  by  pontons  to  Windmill  Point.  Hancock's 
Second  Corps  had  the  advance,  with  orders  to  reach  Harri 
son's  Creek  on  the  City  Point  R.R.  as  speedily  as  possible. 
From  defective  maps  this  corps  was  led  astray  and  did  not 
reach  supporting  distance  of  Gen'l  Smith  until  orders  sus 
pending  operations  for  the  day  had  been  executed.  Gen'l 
Hancock,  waiving  seniority  of  rank,  offered  the  co-operation 
of  his  corps  to  continue  the  advance,  which  Gen'l  Smith  did 
not  think  it  wise  to  accept.  Petersburg  could  still  have  been 
captured  the  morning  of  the  16th,  and  doubtless  would  have 
been  but  for  an  order  of  Gen'l  Meade's  to  ' '  await  the  arrival 
of  the  Ninth  Corps  "  (Gen'l  Burnside),  which  he  said  might 
be  expected  by  the  middle  of  tho  forenoon.  This  corps  did 
not  arrive  in  position  until  afternoon,  and  this  delay  proved 
fatal.  During  the  afternoon  the  rebel  troops  were  seen 


334          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

across  the  Appomattox  pouring  toward  Petersburg ;  and 
when  the  advance  was  made,  instead  of  raw  recruits  of  old 
men  and  boys  to  oppose  us,  their  works  were  defended  by 
Lee's  veteran  troops.  That  a  great  mistake  had  been  made 
cannot  be  denied ;  but,  with  facts  from  history,  it  is  easier 
to  accuse  Gen'l  Smith,  than  to  prove  neglect  or  inefficiency 
at  a  time  when  information  and  appearances  were  so  mis 
leading.  The  truth  evidently  is,  there  should  be  a  division 
of  responsibility. 

Gen'l  Grant,  in  his  report  upon  this  action,  criticises 
Gen'l  Smith,  claiming  that  "  our  advance  confronted  the 
enemy's  pickets  before  daylight,  and  that  the  attack  was 
needlessly  delayed,  and,  when  made,  might  have  been 
pressed  to  a  successful  occupation  of  Petersburg ;  asserting 
the  night  was  clear,  the  moon  shining  brightly,  and  favora 
ble  for  further  operations."  In  the  interest  of  impartial  his 
tory  it  should  be  said  that  all  the  information  with  which 
Gen'l  Smith  had  been  furnished  proved  singularly  incorrect 
as  to  the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy  and  the  routes  to 
their  works.  This  was  true,  also,  of  that  furnished  to  Gen'l 
Hancock,  who,  to  co-operate,  was  ordered  to  "  take  position 
on  the  City  Point  Railroad  where  it  crosses  Harrison's  Creek," 
which  creek  was  miles  away,  and  far  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  This  error  led  to  considerable  delay  in  his  column 
reaching  the  field  of  action.  On  file  in  the  War  Department 
is  a  paper  on  matters  relative  to  this  movement,  which  has 
this  endorsement  by  Gen'l  Meade  :  "  Had  Gen'l  Hancock  or 
myself  known  Petersburg  was  to  be  attacked  (that  day) 
Petersburg  would  have  fallen."  This  shows  that  in  addition 
to  inaccurate  and  inadequate  knowledge,  there  was  no  gen 
eral  understanding  that  a  combined  attack  was  to  be  made, 
and  in  the  absence  of  specific  instructions,  Gen'l  Smith  was 
bound  to  act  according  to  his  best  judgment,  even  though  it 
should  afterward  prove  erroneous. 


MATTER    IN    DISPUTE.  335 

Gen'l  Smith  in  his  report,  after  detailing  the  opera 
tions  of  the  day,  says  :  "  We  had  thus  broken  through  the 
strong  line  of  rebel  works,  but  heavy  darkness  was  upon 
us,  and  I  had  heard  some  hours  before  that  Lee's  army 
was  rapidly  crossing  at  Drewry's  Bluff.  I  deemed  it  wiser 
to  hold  what  we  had,  than  by  attempting  to  reach  the 
bridges  at  Petersburg,  to  lose  what  we  had  gained,  and 
have  the  troops  meet  with  a  disaster.  I  knew  also  that 
some  portion  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  coming  to 
aid  us,  and  therefore  the  troops  were  placed  so  as  to  occupy 
the  commanding  positions  and  wait  for  daylight."  In  cor- 
roboration  of  Gen'l  Smith's  information  it  is  an  assured 
fact  that  Hoke's  Division  crossed  the  James  at  Drewry's 
Bluff  quite  early  the  morning  of  the  15th,  and  took  position 
in  the  rebel  works  before  Petersburg  about  eight  o'clock 
that  evening;  so  that,  had  we  advanced,  we  should  have 
found  the  works  now  manned  by  veteran  troops.  With 
subsequent  information,  however,  there  is  ground  to  believe 
an  assault  by  the  Union  forces  might  have  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  Petersburg.  So  far  as  the  arrival  on  the  field 
of  Gen'l  Smith's  Corps  may  be  a  matter  in  dispute,  our 
memoranda  indicate  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  enemy  at  the 
railroad  crossing  about  nine  A.  M.  ;  near  the  field  an  hour 
later ;  exposed  to  a  severe  artillery  fire  at  eleven  A.  M.  ;  an 
order  for  a  charge  issued  at  twelve  M.,  but  delayed  from 
a  lack  of  artillery. 

In  obedience  of  Gen'l  Smith's  order  to  hold  our  position 
for  the  night  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  bivouacked  near 
the  captured  works,  but  soon  after  dark  the  entire  regiment 
was  ordered  on  picket.  The  night  was  uneventful  to  us, 
one  of  our  men  sarcastically,  yet  truthfully,  remarking, 
"  The  Johnnies  are  too  busy  fixing  another  line  for  us." 
At  the  left,  during  the  evening,  there  was  a  sharp  engage 
ment  for  a  short  time,  when  everything  lapsed  into  perfect 
quiet.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  as  indicated,  Gen'l 


336          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Meade  being  present,  assumed  command,  delaying  the  ad 
vance  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  time  a  consider 
able  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  in  position 
before  Petersburg.  By  the  best  information  we  can  get, 
Beanregard  was  now  in  command  at  Petersburg  with  four 
teen  thousand  veteran  troops  and  a  few  emergency  men, 
Lee  and  the  remnant  of  the  rebel  army  not  reaching  there 
until  the  morning  of  the  18th.  The  enemy  maintained  a 
harassing  fire  of  artillery  on  our  position  during  the  entire 
day,  but  without  reply  from  our  forces.  At  six  o'clock  P.M. 
a  general  artillery  engagement  opened  along  the  line,  under 
which  the  Twenty-Seventh  Kegiment,  with  others,  moved 
forward  as  a  diversion,  in  favor  of  an  attack  at  the  left  by 
the  Second  and  Ninth  Corps.  The  engagement  lasted  most 
of  the  night,  with  questionable  success.  At  eleven  o'clock 
our  regiment  returned  to  its  position  in  line,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  The  17th  we  held  our  position  under  the 
enemy's  guns  without  loss.  A  general  assault  was  ordered 
for  June  18th. 

At  half-past  three  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  awoke 
from  the  fitful  slumbers  of  the  soldier,  and  partaking  of 
their  scanty  repast  (commissary  supplies  were  very  short 
at  the  time),  fell  into  line  two  hundred  and  three  strong. 
At  nine  o'clock  A.M.,  the  order  to  advance  was  given, 
and  the  first  line  of  rebel  works  was  carried  by  us  with 
out  determined  opposition.  A  deafening  contest  right  and 
left  convinced  us  the  enemy  had  been  surprised  on  our  front, 
but  were  disposed  to  yield  elsewhere  only  to  superior  force. 
To  avail  himself  of  the  vantage  we  had  gained  upon  the 
enemy's  flank,  Gen'l  Martindale  decided  to  assault  the 
enemy's  new  position  some  half  a  mile  in  advance,  and 
by  noon  had  deployed  his  troops  for  that  purpose.  The 
Twenty-Seventh  was  halted  on  a  knoll  near  the  Appomat- 
tox,  within  rifle-shot  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  as  an  attack 
was  imminent,  with  orders  that  none  should  leave  the  ranks. 


READY    FOR    ANOTHER   ASSAULT.  337 

Col.  Pace's  residence,  known  as  Greencroft,  with  a  "well- 
sweep"  just  in  front,  was  too  great  a  temptation,  however, 
for  gnawing  stomachs  and  parched  throats.  Many  of  our 
men  risked  the  enemy's  fire  which  swept  the  surroundings, 
and  succeeded  in  quenching  their  thirst  with  delicious  water. 
A  table  in  the  house,  laden  with  fragments  of  the  morn 
ing's  repast,  afforded  a  few  crumbs  of  comfort,  and  in  about 
as  little  time  as  required  to  tell  it,  all  were  back  in  position, 
without  a  misgiving  for  their  disobedience. 

At  one  o'clock  we  charged  forward,  capturing  a  second 
line  from  the  enemy,  driving  them  into  their  main  works, 
a  short  distance  in  front.  The  heat  of  the  sun  was  intense, 
while  the  smoke  of  battle  rolled  over  us  from  Burnside  on 
the  left,  clinging  close  to  the  ground  and  obscuring  our 
surroundings.  The  enemy  now  massing  on  our  front, 
poured  in  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry,  under 
which,  begrimed  with  powder,  smoke  and  dust,  we  hugged 
and  almost  burrowed  the  earth  for  safety.  Stedman's  Bri 
gade  and  the  Eighty-Ninth  New  York,  of  the  Star  Brigade, 
were  ordered  to  assault  the  enemy's  position,  but  after  a 
gallant  charge  were  repulsed  and  obliged  to  lie  down,  un 
able  to  return,  from  the  fierceness  of  the  enemy's  fire. 
The  Star  Brigade  present,  consisted  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  Capt.  John  TV".  Moore,  commanding;  the  Eighty- 
Ninth  New  York,  Col.  Fairchild  ;  Ninth  New  Jersey,  Col. 
McChesney  ;  and  the  Fifty-Fifth  Pennsylvania,  Capt.  Hill. 
The  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.,  Capt.  Parkhurst,  had  been  tem 
porarily  detached  the  day  previous  for  service  near  the 
river;  while  the  Twenty-Third  Mass.,  Col.  Elwell,  was 
left  at  Point  of  Eocks  the  15th,  and  did  not  rejoin  the 
brigade  until  the  20th  inst. 

At  two  o'clock  Lieut.  James  H.  Fowler  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.,  now  aid  to  Gen'l  Stannard,  brought  orders 
for  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Fifty-Fifth  Penn.  Kegi- 
ments  to  carry  forward  and  align  upon  the  right  of  the 


338  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Eighty-Ninth  New  York,  who  were  three  hundred  yards  in 
advance,  and  to  charge  the  enemy's  works.  The  Twenty- 
Seventh  sprang  to  arms,  charged  at  double-quick  up  an  abrupt 
ascent,  over  a  high  fence  beyond  the  crest,  down  to  an  open 
field  covered  with  half-grown  oats,  but  with  no  evidence  of  the 
force  before  us  with  which  we  were  seeking  to  align.  Still 
the  order  was  "Forward!"  and  nerved  by  an  irresistible 
impulse  and  an  unswerving  courage,  the  advance  continued 
into  the  grain,  our  course  trailed  with  mangled  forms  of 
dead  and  dying.  Onward,  till  every  oificer  but  Lieut.  Jill- 
son  was  wounded,  and  he  endeavoring  to  aid  Lieut.  Cooley 
from  the  field.  Onward  —  under  sergeants,  till  these  too 
had  been  almost  annihilated,  when  a  sweeping  volley  from 
the  enemy  at  close  range  brought  the  depleted  ranks  to  the 
earth  like  reeds  before  a  tempest.  As  by  a  common  impulse 
all  dropped  into  the  friendly  cover  of  the  grain,  which  se 
creted  us  sufficiently  to  protect  us  from  the  enemy's  aim. 
Endurance,  courage  and  valor  had  been  taxed  to  their  utmost, 
but  in  vain. 

Capt.  Moore,  our  commander,  was  wounded  soon  after 
passing  the  fence,  followed  in  quick  succession  by  Capt. 
McKay  and  Lieut.  Cooley.  The  bodies  of  Sergts.  Meacham, 
Brewer  and  Calwell,  with  Corpls.  Eggleston  and  Oaks  and 
other  slain,  with  scores  of  wounded,  marked  our  perilous 
advance.  The  two  Brewer  brothers,  of  Company  F,  lay 
near  each  other  in  the  embrace  of  death,  having  fallen 
within  a  few  seconds  of  each  other ;  Bolio.  Dunakin  and 
Prior,  of  Company  D,  were  lying  near  by.  We  seemed 
in  danger  of  utter  extinction.  A  furrow  through  the  field 
served  us  well  as  a  partial  protection  from  the  enemy's 
fire,  while  cups  and  bayonets  were  briskly  used  to  draw 
the  earth  from  under  us,  and  place  it  on  the  exposed  side. 
Others  again,  sought  shelter  behind  fallen  comrades,  and 
strengthened  the  human  breastwork  by  throAving  dirt  against 
the  bodies.  While  lying  on  the  field  Sergt.  (afterwards 


OUR   ASSAULT   JUNE    EIGHTEENTH.  339 

Lieut.)  E.  L.  Peck  made  the  following  memorandum  in  his 
diary.  "A  charge  and  a  repulse.  Awful  slaughter!  We 
are  literally  cut  to  pieces.  Ten  are  killed  outright  and  are 
lying  near  me.  Many  are  in  the  agonies  of  death ;  not  an 
officer  left ;  bullets  flying  like  hailstones ;  here  I  lie,  my 
knapsack  in  front  of  me  as  a  protection  from  bullets.  Some 
are  heaping  up  earth  against  them  for  protection.  The 
cries  and  groans  of  the  wounded  and  dying  are  awful. 
They  lie  scattered  around,  and  we  cannot  help  them.  To 
raise  our  heads  is  sure  death.  I  am  half  choked.  Shall  die 
by  some  means  or  other  soon,  by  bullets  or  sunstroke." 

It  seemed  as  if  the  sun  were  standing  still  a  second  time, 
and  this  time  for  the  benefit  of  the  Amorites.  Napoleon 
never  longed  for  night  to  come  at  Waterloo  with  more 
earnestness  than  these  battle  stayed  soldiers  on  that  fatal 
field.  To  advance  was  death  or  capture  ;  to  retreat  would 
but  double  the  loss  already  sustained.  While  the  waving 
grain  concealed  us  from  the  enemy,  it  also  prevented  the 
air  from  reaching  us,  so  that  we  almost  broiled  under  the 
rays  of  the  sun.  At  length  darkness  came,  and  we  stealth 
ily  gathered  our  dead  and  wounded,  and  moved  to  the  rear. 
Sergt.  Major  Henry  W.  Tryon  of  Granville,  though  wounded 
severely  in  the  leg,  and  unable  to  walk,  refused  assistance, 
that  others,  more  unfortunate  might  be  cared  for;  and  also 
because  of  the  exposure  such  efforts  would  entail  upon  those 
caring  for  him.  He  crawled  back,  dragging  his  wounded 
limb,  until  within  reach  of  the  ambulance  corps.  Sergt. 
Hiram  Everton  of  Westfield  was  in  advance  of  most  of  the 
regiment,  and  was  wounded  by  a  Minie-ball  passing  entirely 
through  his  body,  just  above  the  hip.  Sergt.  Everton  was 
one  of  the  best  soldiers  in  the  regiment,  and  though  never 
absent  from  our  engagements,  had  escaped  unharmed  until 
now.  With  characteristic  courage  he  endured  his  suffer 
ings  until  dark,  when  with  his  gun  for  a  crutch,  he  hobbled 
back  to  the  lines,  and  was  carried  to  the  hospital.  Comrade 


340  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

Everton  survived  his  wound  until  Sept.  27,  1881.  Search 
for  the  wounded  and  the  burial  of  our  dead  occupied  much  of 
the  night,  as  the  enemy  were  constantly  on  the  alert.  Our 
dead  were  buried  in  a  ravine  in  front  of  the  Greencroft 
mansion,  from  which  we  started  at  nine  o'clock.  Sergts. 
Brewer,  Meacham  and  Caldwell  were  laid  side  by  side. 
Lieut.  Jillson  was  ordered  by  Gen'l  Stannard  to  remain 
near  the  headquarters  of  the  brigade,  and  gather  any  of  the 
regiment  who  might  return,  and  then  report  to  him  for  duty. 
Knowing  the  men  would  be  famished  from  hunger,  Lieut. 
Jillson  procured  and  cooked  rations  in  readiness  for  them, 
and  rallied  the  regiment  just  in  front  of  Greencroft  dur 
ing  the  night.  Our  casualties  for  the  day  proved  to  have 
been  eleven  killed  and  twenty-eight  wounded. 

KILLED. 

Company  D.  —  LEVIS  M.  BOLIO,  Amherst ;  shot  in  head. 
HENRY  DUNAKIN,  Hadley ;  shot  in  head.  FRED.  S.  PRIOR,  Had- 
ley  ;  shot  in  head. 

Company  E.  —  Sergt.  GEORGE  W.  BREWER,  Great  Barrington  ; 
shot  in  breast. 

Company  F.  —  Corp.  C.  T.  EGGLESTON,  Westfield  ;  shot  through 
side.  CHARLES  C.  BREWER,  Granville  ;  shot  in  breast.  JOHN  W. 
BREWER,  Granville  ;  shot  in  head.  LEROT  S.  OAKS,  Dana  ;  shot 
in  head. 

Company  H.  —  Sergt.  BERNARD  CALWELL,  Adams ;  shot  in 
head. 

Company  I.  — ANTHONY  C.  POTT,  Ludlow ;  shot  in  head. 

Company  K.  —  Sergt.  J.,W.  H.  MEACHAM,  Shelburne  ;  shot  in 
head. 

WOUNDED. 

Capt.  John  W.  Moore,  Tolland  ;  left  hand,  severe.  Sergt.  Major 
H.  W.  Try  on,  Granville  ;  left  leg,  severe. 

Company  B.  — Charles  Sears,  Athol ;  hand.  Alonzo  J.  Thomas, 
Shutesbury ;  neck. 


WOUNDED    JUNE    EIGHTEENTH.  341 

Company  D.  —  William  D.  Brackett,  Blandford  ;  lower  jaw  and 
neck,  severe.  Charles  A.  Pettingill,  Belchertown ;  arm,  slight. 
James  A.  Preston,  Amherst ;  right  shoulder,  severe.  Elmer  P. 
Snow,  Springfield ;  eye,  slight.  William  H.  Snow,  Springfield ; 
both  legs,  severe. 

Company  E.  — Charles  H.  Davis,  Pittsfield  ;  right  arm,  hip,  and 
body,  fatal.  Thomas  Jones,  Great  Barrington  ;  hand,  amputated. 

Company  F.  —  Lieut.  S.  P.  Cooley,  Granville  ;  left  shoulder  and 
side,  severe.  Sergt.  Hiram  G.  Everton,  Westfield ;  through  the 
body.  Charles  H.  Allison,  Springfield  ;  both  thighs,  severe.  Wil 
liam  H.  Bush,  Westfield;  head,  severe.  Alfred  Holcomb,  South- 
wick  ;  leg  and  finger.  Malachi  Horner,  Southwick ;  left  leg,  flesh 
wound.  Henry  Walker,  Sandisfield.  Peter  Wilson,  Southwick ; 
groin. 

Company  G.  —  Corp.  F.  E.  Nutting,  Northampton,  left  shoulder, 
severe.  Edward  Bride,  Northampton  ;  leg  and  arm,  flesh.  Aretas 
Walters,  Holyoke  ;  shoulder.  Lewis  Wellspeak,  Springfield  ;  arm 
and  leg,  slight. 

Company  H.  —  Capt.  William  McKay,  Adams  ;  left  side. 

Company  I.  —  Arthur  N.  Hotchkiss,  Springfield;  elbow,  slight. 
Marshall  G.  Rice,  Springfield  ;  left  foot,  amputated. 

Company  K.  —  Patrick  Harrington,  Springfield;  head  and  left 
arm,  severe.  Samuel  L.  Sherman,  hand,  slight. 

Capt.  John  W.  Moore  was  wounded  by  a  musket-ball  in 
the  left  hand.  Lieut.  Sherman  P.  Cooley  of  Granville, 
was  wounded  severely  in  the  side,  under  the  pain  from 
which  be  was  staggering  along  trying  to  follow  his  men, 
wben  Lieut.  Jillson  came  and  urged  him  to  go  to  the  rear. 
Lieut.  Cooley  objected,  saying,  "Jillson,  you  are  the  only 
officer  left,  and  I  won't  leave  you ! "  when  another  ball 
struck  him  in  the  shoulder,  and  he  fell  into  Lieut.  Jillson's 
arms,  and  was  borne  off  the  field.  Lieut.  Cooley  bad  pre 
viously  received  wounds  at  Cold  Harbor,  and  there,  also, 
refused  to  leave  the  field. 

Amid  the  grim  surroundings  of  the  field,  there  are  often 
humorous  experiences  which  disarm  fear,  and  provoke  laugh- 


342  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

ter.  G W of  Company  F,  was  sure  to  turn  lip 

when  there  was  fighting  or  fun,  and  under  the  most  trying 
circumstances,  would  dryly  perpetrate  the  most  side-split 
ting  jokes.  After  the  charge,  like  man}r  another,  he  was 
trying  to  find  some  hollow  spot  to  deposit  himself,  as  a  de 
fence  from  the  hostile  fire,  but  found  it  difficult  to  spread 
himself  thin  enough  upon  the  ground.  This  feeling  was  a 
common  one  under  fire,  but  to  W it  had  an  uncomfort 
able  application.  Nature  had  endowed  the  brave  old  fellow 
with  generous  abdominal  proportions  —  well,  he  was  large 
all  around,  too  much  so  to  admit  of  protection  in  ordinary 
excavations.  Falling  upon  his  face  he  thrust  his  head  into 
a  furrow,  the  remainder  of  his  body  cutting  a  most  ridicu 
lous  figure,  and  exclaimed,  "  There  !  fire  away  !  I've  got  a 
place  for  my  head,  any  way  !  " 

The  assault  of  the  18th  was  ordered  by  Gen'l  Grant, 
under  the  impression  that  Gen'l  Lee's  army  was  not  yet 
fully  present,  or  the  works  so  far  perfected  as  to  be  invul 
nerable.  Had  the  attack  been  made  the  17th  his  surmise 
would  have  proved  correct,  but  Gen'l  Lee,  with  his  entire 
army,  arrived  early  the  morning  of  the  18th.  The  Union 
army  assailed  the  enemy  along  the  entire  front,  with  a  loss 
often  thousand  killed  and  wounded,  but  without  any  advan 
tage  save  on  our  immediate  front.  Intrenchments  and  sys 
tematic  approaches  were  now  the  only  expedients.  Having 
placed  himself  on  the  south  of  Richmond,  the  objective 
point,  neither  change  of  base  nor  flank  movement  could  now 
avail,  except  so  far  as  Gen'l  Grant  might  attempt  to  cut  the 
south  side  railroads,  over  which  the  enemy  secured  supplies. 
To  this  end  future  movements  were  directed. 

The  morning  of  the  19th  Sergt.  E.  L.  Peck  presented 
Gen'l  Stannard  with  a  list  of  casualties  in  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  the  day  previous,  when  the  general,  notic 
ing  the  sergeant's  modest  uniform,  inquired,  "  How  is  this? 
Where  are  your  officers?"  A  look  into  the  hospitals  would 


MEN  OF  Co.   F. 


HIRAM  G.   EVKRTON. 


GEORCE  WELCOME. 


Sergeant  Major  CHAS.  C.  FOWLER. 


WALTER  R.  MADISON. 


DANIEL  W.   BATES. 


GEN.  SMITH'S  ADDRESS.  343 

have  answered  the  question.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass, 
now  mustered  one  officer  and  eighty  men,  and,  worn  by  the 
fatigues  of  the  day  and  night  previous,  lay  down  to  sleep, 
regardless  of  the  shells  which  fell  around  them  during  the 
entire  day.  During  the  evening,  the  Eighteenth  Corps  was 
relieved  by  the  Sixth  Corps  and  marched  back  to  Point  of 
Rocks,  reaching  there  about  midnight.  We  camped  on  the 
same  grounds  occupied  by  us  previous  to  our  departure  for 
Cold  Harbor,  experiencing  the  novel  sensation  of  rest  un 
disturbed  by  z-z-p  of  ball  or  bursting  shells.  While  here 
Gen'l  Smith  took  occasion  to  promulgate  the  following 
complimentary  address  :  — 

To  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps :  — 

The  General  commanding  desires  to  express  to  his  command  his 
appreciation  of  the  soldierly  qualities  displayed  during  the  cam 
paign  of  the  last  seventeen  days. 

Within  that  time  they  have  been  constantly  called  upon  to 
undergo  the  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life  and  be  exposed  to  all 
of  its  dangers. 

Marches  under  a  hot  sun,  have  ended  in  severe  battle  ;  after  the 
battle,  watchful  nights  in  the  trenches,  gallantly  taken  from  the 
enemy  ;  but  the  crowning  point  of  the  honor  they  are  entitled  to 
has  been  won  since  the  15th  instant,  when  a  series  of  earthworks, 
on  most  commanding  positions,  and  of  formidable  strength  have 
been  carried,  with  all  the  guns  and  material  of  war  of  the  enemy, 
including  prisoners  and  colors.  The  works  have  all  been  held  and 
the  trophies  remain  in  our  hands. 

The  victory  is  all  the  more  important  to  us,  as  the  troops  have 
never  been  regularly  organized  in  camp,  with  time  to  learn  the 
discipline  necessary  to  a  well  organized  corps  d'armee,  but  they 
have  been  hastily  concentrated  and  suddenly  summoned  to  take 
part  in  the  trying  campaign  in  which  they  have  engaged.  Such 
honor  as  they  have  won  will  remain  imperishable. 

To  the  colored  troops,  comprising  the  Division  of  General 
Hincks,  the  General  commanding  would  call  the  attention  of  the 
veterans  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps ;  they  have  stormed  the  works 


344  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

of  the  enemy  and  carried  them ;  taken  guns  and  prisoners,  and  in 
the  whole  affair,  they  have  displayed  the  qualities  of  good  soldiers. 

By  command  of  Major-General  SMITH. 
WM.  RUSSELL,  Assistant  Adjutant- General. 

The  same  day  Gen'l  Stannard  was  relieved  from  the  Star 
Brigade  and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Second  Divis 
ion,  Eighteenth  Army  Corps.  The  brief  time  which  we 
served  under  him  was  eventful,  and  we  parted  with  the 
deepest  regrets.  A  man  of  rough  exterior,  he  was  not 
choice  in  language  to  express  his  disapproval  of  inefficiency 
or  unsoldierly  conduct.  Cool,  fearless,  and  daring,  he  was 
the  embodiment  of  a  soldier  in  camp  or  field.  His  rough 
exterior  covered  a  warm  and  sympathetic  heart,  with  a  glow 
ing  admiration  for  courage  and  bravery.  His  expressions 
of  pride  in  the  heroic  conduct  of  the  Twenty- Seventh  will 
always  be  cherished  by  us  as  a  tribute  from  one  who  exem 
plified  in  himself  a  high  standard  of  courage  and  patriotism. 
His  appreciation  of  his  brigade  is  best  evinced  in  his  fare 
well  order :  — 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE, 
SECOND  DIVISION,  EIGHTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 
IN  THE  FIELD,  BERMUDA  HUNDREDS,  VA.,  June  20,  1864. 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  15. 

Having  been  assigned  to  another  command,  the  General  com 
manding  desires,  in  taking  leave  of  his  brigade,  to  conve}7  to  them 
his  pride  and  satisfaction  in  connection  with  the  uniform  courage, 
endurance  and  ready  obedience  which  has  characterized  the  entire 
command  during  his  short  but  eventful  connection  with  it. 

The  memorable  3d  of  June  when,  at  Cold  Harbor,  Col.  Pickett 
of  the  Twenty-Fifth,  Major  Walker  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  Col. 
Elwell  with  the  Twenty-Third,  and  Capt.  Nesbitt  with  the  Fifty- 
Fifth  so  gallantl}T  charged  the  enemy's  almost  impregnable  works ; 
and  again  during  the  more  recent  t^ing  campaign  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  when  the  Eighty-Ninth  (N.  Y.),  Col.  Fairchilds ; 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Capt.  Moore  ;  Twenty-Fifth,  Capt.  Park- 


CHAPLAIN    WOODWORTH    RESIGNS.  345 

hurst,  and  Fifty-Fifth  (Penn.),  Capt.  Hill,  have  so  unflinchingly, 
during  the  15th,  16th  and  18th  of  June  pressed  the  enemy  home 
to  the  last  earthworks,  will  remain  forever  engraved  on  my  heart. 
To  whatever  sphere  of  duty  I  may  hereafter  be  called,  I  shall 
always  carry  with  me  the  proud  recollection  of  the  deeds  of  the 
"  First  Brigade,"  and  the  calm  reflection  that  they  will  never  dis 
grace  the  laurels  which  they  have  nobly  won  by  their  blood. 

By  command  of  Brig.  Gen'l  STANNARD, 
WM.  L.  KENT,  Capt.  and  A.  A.  A.  General. 

The  Fifth  Maryland  Regiment  was  here  added  to  the  Star 
Brigade,  so  that  it  now  consisted  of  seven  regiments,  with 

O  '  D 

Col.  Fry  of  the  Fifth  Maryland  in  command.  The  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  was  now  under  command  of  Capt. 
P.  S.  Bailey,  and  contained  four  line  officers  and  one  hun 
dred  and  fourteen  men  present  for  duty.  Our  wounded  and 
sick  were  scattered  in  hospitals,  from  that  of  the  corps  near 
the  scene  of  action,  to  those  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Washing- 
ington,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and  those  within  our  native 
State.  The  public  spirit  and  resources  of  loyal  homes  were 
taxed  to  the  utmost  to  provide  for  the  increasing  number  of 
patients  within  these  hospitals,  and  no  history  of  the  war 
would  be  complete  without  a  generous  acknowledgment  of 
the  invaluable  aid  rendered  by  patriotic  women  of  the  North 
in  relieving  the  sufferings  incident  to  its  prosecution. 

At  this  time  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  sustained  a 
loss  it  could  ill  afford,  in  the  resignation  of  Chaplain  C.  L. 
Woodvvorth.  He  had  followed  all  our  varying  fortunes, 
ready  to  minister  to  our  spiritual  and  physical  comforts. 
He  was  kind  and  sympathetic,  cheerful  and  familiar,  yet 
ever  maintaining  a  consistent  walk  and  an  elevating  influence. 
His  special  work  was  never  forgotten,  nor  neglected  with 
lame  apologies ;  but  in  all  his  duties  he  was  persevering, 
efficient,  and  popular.  Without  belittling  himself,  or  his 
office,  Chaplain  Wood  worth  placed  himself  in  contact  with 


346  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

all,  obtaining  a  warm  place  in  our  esteem.  The  terrible 
desolation  which  had  befallen  "his  men"  was  too  much  for 
his  sj^mpathetic  heart  to  endure.  Seven  hundred  and  forty- 
four  men  had  left  Norfolk  with  him,  six  weeks  before,  in  the 
vigor  and  prime  of  life.  The  privilege  of  performing  the 
last  sad  rites  of  earth  over  his  honored  dead  had  often  been 
denied  him  by  the  exigencies  of  service  ;  but  many  others 
had  been  committed  to  the  dust  under  his  faithful  care,  and 
little  mementoes  secured  and  forwarded  to  loved  ones  by  his 
hand.  He  had  aided  in  binding  up  wounds,  and  staying  the 
ebbing  tide  of  life,  and  had  received  the  last  words  of  fare 
well  and  remembrance,  and  penned  them  to  the  bereaved 
at  home,  until,  as  he  said,  "My  men  are  all  gone.  The 
service  and  exposure  to  which  the  few  remaining  are  called 
puts  them  beyond  my  reach,  even  if  I  could  bear  the  mental 
agony  their  presence  revives."  On  the  20th  of  June  he 
bade  us  farewell  and  returned  to  Amherst,  where  he  had 
been  settled  previous  to  the  war.  It  is  fitting  to  say  that 
though  we  lost  his  presence,  he  has  always  maintained  an 
active  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  us.  Chaplain  Wood- 
worth  is  at  present  engaged  with  the  American  Home  Mis 
sionary  Society,  with  headquarters  at  the  Congregational 
House,  Boston,  Mass.  The  remainder  of  our  army  ex 
perience  was  passed  without  a  chaplain. 

Our  withdrawal  from  the  front  was  of 'short  duration,  as 
the  extended  Union  lines  required  the  entire  army  for  de 
fence  and  active  operations.  We  reached  the  front  again  at 
eleven  P.M.  June  21st,  and  relieved  the  Vermont  Brigade, 
some  distance  to  the  left  of  our  former  position,  and  within 
two  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy.  The  various  assaults 
along  the  line  since  the  15th  inst.,  had  resulted  in  a  loss  of 
fifteen  thousand  men,  and  it  was  clear,  with  the  time  the 
enemy  had  now  gained,  that  whatever  we  did  must  be 
through  systematic  approaches,  rather  than  by  a  coup  de 
main.  Growing  in  strength  from  day  to  day,  the  Confeder- 


DEFENCES    OF   THE    ENEMY.  347 

ate  lines  of  defences  had  become  so  formidable  that  to  take 
them  by  assault  was  impracticable.  Their  lines  consisted  of 
heavy  forts  and  a  chain  of  redans,  connected  by  infantry 
parapets  of  powerful  profile ;  while  the  approaches  were 
completely  obstructed  by  abatis,  stakes  and  entanglements. 
Beginning  "at  the  Appomattox  in  front  of  our  position,  they 
enveloped  Petersburg  east  and  south,  stretching  westward 
beyond  the  farthest  reach  of  the  Union  arms.  A  continu 
ation  of  works  on  the  north  of  the  Appomattox,  protected 
the  city  and  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Railroad,  via 
Walthall  and  Drewry's  Bluff  to  the  James  River,  then  north 
of  the  James  encircled  Richmond,  the  whole  constituting 
the  most  formidable  series  of  defences  engineering  could 
devise.  The  whole  system  extended  in  an  almost  continu 
ous  line  of  upwards  of  sixty  miles. 

The  cities  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  although  twenty- 
two  miles  apart,  were  within  the  arc  of  a  circle,  against  any 
threatened  point  of  which,  the  enemy,  with  their  railroad, 
could  throw  a  preponderating  force  with  great  celerity.  A 
surprise  was  fairly  out  of  question,  because,  working  on  the 
periphery  of  the  circle,  Gen'l  Grant  required  days  for  a 
movement  which  the  enemy  could  provide  against  in  as  many 
hours.  Although  assailed,  Richmond  and  Petersburg  were 
at  no  time  strictly  under  siege,  as  the  western  roads  were 
open,  and  tenaciously  held  by  the  enemy.  Through  this  sec 
tion  passed  the  Lynchburg  and  Southside  railroads,  connect 
ing  at  Danville  with  a  southern  network  of  railways  furnish 
ing  uninterrupted  communication  through  the  Confederacy. 
These  roads,  though  poorly  equipped,  by  running  day  and 
night,  were  able  to  furnish  the  enemy  with  needed  supplies. 

The  Union  army  held  the  investing  lines  of  Petersburg, 
under  the  eye  of  Lieut.  Gen'l  Grant,  but  with  Maj.  Gen'l 
Meade  as  the  immediate  commander.  Gen'l  Butler's  forces 
still  occupied  the  entrenchments  at  Bermuda  Hundreds.  An 
entrenched  camp  was  held  north  of  the  James  River  at  Deep 


348  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    KEGIMENT. 

Bottom,  and  was  connected  with  Bermuda  Hundreds  by 
pontons.  The  enemy's  force  consisted  of  Hill's,  Ewell's 
and  Longstreet's  Corps  within  Petersburg,  with  detachments 
under  Beauregard,  advanced  close  to  our  lines  near  Point  of 
Rocks.  The  enemy  had  about  sixty-five  thousand  available 
infantry,  besides  artillery  and  cavalry,  around  Petersburg 
and  Bermuda  Hundreds. 


BEFORE    PETERSBURG.  349 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

A  SUMMER  BEFORE  PETERSBURG. 

To  follow  the  varying  fortunes  of  the  next  two  months 
would  be  but  to  recount  the  details  of  our  duty  at  the  front 
as  pickets  and  sharpshooters,  or  within  the  trenches,  suffer 
ing  by  exposure,  wounds  and  death.  When  temporarily  re 
lieved  and  at  the  rear,  we  were  endangered  by  shells  and 
bombs  which  were  incessantly  falling  around  us.  No  de 
scription  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  our  surroundings. 
It  was  a  continuous  battle  from  the  15th  of  June  until  we 
re-arrived  at  Point  of  Rocks,  August  25th.  The  battle 
varied  in  intensity  and  carnage,  now  enveloping  us  with  the 
smoke  and  din  of  conflict,  and  then  receding  to  the  distant 
left.  Night  or  day,  rain  or  shine,  the  roar  of  cannon,  groan 
of  bombs,  rattle  of  musketry,  and  tz-z-p  of  bullets  were 
heard  continuously. 

The  experience  of  fighting  the  enemy  from  behind  fortifi 
cations  was  a  new  one  to  us,  since  in  all  our  previous  con 
tests  we  had  been  in  the  open  field,  while  the  rebels  had 
been  safely  ensconced  behind  strong  earthworks.  Our  lines 
were  built  with  the  utmost  care,  and  each  day  grew  in 
strength  under  accomplished  engineers.  The  intrenchments 
were  constructed  with  "port-holes"  for  the  use  of  sharp 
shooters  ;  gopher-holes  and  bombproofs  were  made  for  the 
protection  of  those  within  the  trenches  ;  while  front,  flanks 
and  salients  were  protected  by  entanglements  and  rifle-pits. 
Within  the  last  our  sharpshooters  picked  off  the  enemy's 
gunners,  or  as  pickets,  watched  the  movements  of  their  army. 


350  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  network  of  our  intrenchments  by  saps  and  traverses 
constantly  closed  upon  the  enemy's  position,  each  advance 
attended  by  some  counter-movement  on  their  part  to  dis 
lodge  us.  Charge  upon  charge  was  made,  with  terrible  loss 
to  their  assaulting  column,  but  rarely  with  any  apparent 
gain.  In  this  way  the  most  successful  battles  of  the  sum 
mer  were  fought.  Movements  purely  to  invite  attack  were 
made  with  great  frequency  by  us,  as  most  effectively  ex 
hausting  the  enemy,  and  compassing  their  defeat.  Our 
system  of  defences  at  no  time  equalled  those  of  the  enemy 
in  completeness.  Covered  ways  were  made  along  their  front, 
furnishing  sufficient  protection  for  all  their  force  out  of  the 
trenches,  with  safe  and  direct  communication  by  which  to 
reach  threatened  points. 

Any  shrinking  from  duty  at  the  front  was  known  as 
"  shell  fever,"  and  subjected  the  offender  to  the  most  humili 
ating  exposure  and  punishment.  It  was  not  an  unusual  occur 
rence  to  see  a  brace  of  cowards,  securely  yoked  together, 
making  the  rounds  of  the  camps  at  the  rear.  In  the  ad 
vance  were  fifes  and  drums  playing  the  "  Rogues'  March." 
Then  followed  the  convicts,  with  closely  shaved  heads,  and 
labelled  with  large  placards,  "Coward!"  Behind  them 
were  guards,  with  fixed  bayonets,  pointing  close  to  the  backs 
of  the  sneaks,  and  forcing  them  onward.  In  this  way  the 
squad  marched  from  camp  to  camp,  the  guilty  ones  receiv 
ing  unstinted  jeers  and  taunts.  It  was  a  terrible  Avarning 
to  beholders,  and  such  a  one  as  few  would  be  willing  to 
undergo.  We  are  glad  to  record  no  such  discipline  Avas 
ever  suffered  by  any  member  of  the  TAventy-Seventh  Mass. 
Regt.  The  rule  Avas  early  established,  "  tAvo  days  Avithin 
the  trenches,  and  tAvo  days  off,"  and  Ave  willingly  admit  our 
retirement  to  the  ravine,  when  relieved,  Avas  seldom  under 
taken  Avith  much  idea  of  military  order  or  precision.  We 
Avere  often,  however,  in  greater  danger  at  the  rear  than 
under  cover  of  the  fortifications.  June  27th,  when  the 


SOME  EXPERIENCES  AT  THE  REAR.          351 

Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  were  lying  in  a  ravine  near  the 
railroad,  the  enemy  opened,  from  the  north  of  the  Ap- 
pomattox,  a  close  and  accurate  fire  of  shell  upon  our 
camp.  Our  stacks  of  guns  were  knocked  down,  and  several 
muskets  destroyed.  Fortunately  many  of  the  shells  failed 
to  explode,  so  that  we  miraculously  escaped  without  loss. 
It  should  be  stated  as  a  notable  fact,  that  the  enemy's  shells 
were  very  unreliable,  and,  from  non-explosion,  failed  of 
much  damage  to  us.  August  17th,  when  we  moved  our 
camp  in  the  woods,  just  in  rear  of  the  front  works,  under 
cover  of  darkness,  a  fierce  fire  of  shell  was  opened  on  us, 
and  for  a  time  the  corruscating  light,  sulphurous  smoke,  and 
deafening  concussion  of  their  explosion,  made  our  position 
more  like  the  infernal  region  than  the  abode  of  men.  For  four 
nights  the  enemy  covered  this  position  with  mortars  in  front, 
and  enfiladed  it  with  rifled  shells  and  Whitworth  shots  from 
the  right.  One  sixty-four  pound  shell  exploded  close  to 
our  headquarters,  and  Whitworth  shots  pierced  the  largest 
trees  around  us  with  the  utmost  ease.  As  one  of  our  boys 
remarked,  "Ihe  enemy  had  a  cross  fire  on  us,  and  it  was 
cross  enough  too  !  " 

Our  contests  were  often  the  fiercest  of  artillery  duels, 
between  guns  of  the  heaviest  calibre,  whose  incessant  pon 
derous  discharges  shook  the  earth  and  fell  on  our  ears  with 
such  a  deafening  roar  as  to  leave  headaches,  tvhich,  under 
other  circumstances,  would  have  incapacitated  us  for  any  duty. 
At  such  times,  if  we  were  in  the  trenches,  we  were  hardly 
more  than  spectators,  closely  hugging  the  fortifications,  or 
bombproofs  ;  but  if  at  the  rear,  we  were  in  constant  watch 
for  unceremonious  "  intruders,  "  against  which  we  had  no 
protection.  At  night  the  mortar  contests  were  sublime.  The 
forests  trembled  with  deep  reverberations,  and  huge  bombs 
rose  with  groans  and  meteor  train,  ending  in  a  corruscation 
of  light,  and  an  explosion  even  louder  than  that  which 
sent  it  from  the  mortar.  The  largest  mortar  at  the  siege  of 


352  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Petersburg  was  the  "  General  Grant."  It  was  mounted  on 
a  platform  car,  and  moved  at  pleasure  along  the  military  rail 
road  skirting  the  rear  of  our  intrenchments.  This  mortar 
threw  a  bomb  weighing  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds. 
Each  bomb  contained  six  hundred  and  twenty-five  bullets, 
and  exploded  with  a  shock  plainly  distinguishable  above  any 
clash  of  arms. 

The  unyielding  grasp  with  which  Gen'l  Grant  held  the 
enemy  to  his  fortifications,  required  watchfulness  and  prompt 
ness,  and,  as  a  result,  we  laid  on  our  arms  and  were  called 
out  from  three  to  four  o'clock  each  morning  to  await  the 
developments  of  light.  It  was  a  death-struggle  with  the 
enemy,  and  no  expedients  were  too  extreme  to  resort  to,  to 
rid  themselves  of  the  anaconda  which  was  slowly  but  surely 
winding  them  in  its  coils.  While  the  contest,  as  stated, 
was  continuous,  the  following  casualties  to  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  are  worthy  of  special  record.  June 
29th,  John  Quinn  of  Company  C  (Southampton),  was  acci 
dentally  but  fatally  wounded.  A  ball  pierced  his  right 
shoulder,  from  which  wound  he  died  July  4th.  At  four  P.M., 
June  30th,  while  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was  support 
ing  four  Cohorn  mortars,  and  a  battery  of  field  artillery,  the 
enemy  replied  with  a  fierce  concentric  fire  for  two  hours. 
Our  position  was  behind  a  knoll  on  the  front  line,  so  that 
most  of  the  fire  passed  over  us.  The  following  comrades  were 
wounded  during  this  contest :  Dexter  Burnett,  Company  D, 
South  Hadley,  left  hand;  slight.  John  K.  Freeman,  Com 
pany  D,  New  Salem,  left  hand  ;  slight.  Cornelius  O'Connor, 
Company  D,  Amherst;  shoulder.  July  8th,  the  enemy  made 
a  sortie  on  our  entire  front  for  the  purpose  of  preventing 
reinforcements  being  forwarded  to  the  relief  of  Washington, 
D.  C.,  but  were  repulsed  with  slaughter  by  our  forces.  The 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  sustained  the  following  loss  during 
the  day  :  James  E.  Ashwell,  Company  D,  Springfield,  right 
arm  ;  severe.  Albert  Cates,  Company  D,  Amherst,  slight. 


WOUNDED STRENGTH    OF    THE    REGIMENT.  353 

Edwin  H.  Potwine,  Company  D,  Amherst,  slight.  Corp. 
Charles  H.  Robertson,  Company  H,  Adams,  head.  Patrick 
Conley,  Company  H,  Adams,  arm  ;  slight.  Nelson  Sheldon, 
Company  I,  Wilbraham,  head ;  slight.  July  9th,  Sergt. 
Robert  M.  Roberts  of  Company  E,  Mount  Washington,  re 
ceived  a  scalp  wound.  July  12th,  Henry  Walker  of  Com 
pany  F,  Sandisfield,  who  had  been  wounded  July  18th,  re 
ceived  a  severe  wound  in  the  leg  while  going  to  a  spring  at 
the  rear  for  water.  This  wound  was  considered  fatal  from 
the  first.  He  died  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Aug.  3,  1864.  Dur 
ing  the  evening  of  July  13th  Homer  R.  King  of  Company  I, 
Ludlow,  was  wounded  in  the  hand  while  in  the  trenches. 
The  17th,  Luke  F.  Bowker  of  Orange,  a  cook  for  Company 
E,  received  a  fatal  wound  in  the  abdomen  while  bringing 
rations  to  the  trenches.  He  died  the  same  day.  Also,  while 
supporting  the  mortar  batteries,  Jay  E.  Nash  of  Amherst, 
was  wounded  in  the  shoulder. 

A  tri-monthly  report  dated  July  19th,  showed  the  condi 
tion  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  to  be  as  follows  :  — 

Commissioned  officers  present  for  duty,          ...  5 

"                  "on  special  dut}r,  ....  2 

"                  "on  detached  service,     ...  5 

"                   "       in  arrest,      .....  2 

"  "       sick  and  wounded,       ...         5 

—     19 

Enlisted  men  present  for  duty, 135 

"  on  special  duty, ......       30 

"  sick  and  wounded,    .         .         .         .         .281 

'•  on  detached  service,  .         .         .         .         .123 

"  absent  with  leave,     .....         3 

"  absent  without  leave,         ....         6 

578 

Total, 597 

This  report  does  not  include  our  captured  men.     Those 
reported  on  detached  service  were  mostly  within  the  pioneer, 


354  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ordnance,  and  ambulance  departments,  but  engaged  in  active 
duty  at  the  front. 

July  20th,  John  B.  Slate  of  Company  B,  Shelburne,  and 
Benjamin  W.  F.  Smith,  Company  E,  Great  Barrington,  were 
wounded ;  the  latter  severely  in  the  hip,  while  engaged  as 
sharpshooter.  July  24th,  William  W.  Latham  of  Company 
D,  Amherst,  was  killed  while  at  the  front.  The  position 
was  the  closest  held  by  us,  at  any  time,  to  the  enemy's  works. 
Comrade  Latham  had  re-enlisted,  and  was  expecting  a  fur 
lough  home  the  next  day.  July  28th,  Jerry  Harrington  of 
Company  K,  Springfield,  was  wounded  in  the  wrist  during  a 
fierce  cannonade.  Aug.  14th,  Henry  E.  Demeranville  of 
Company  H,  Cheshire,  was  wounded  over  the  right  eye.  Aug. 
19th,  Henry  A.  Ryther  of  Greenfield,  cook  for  Company 
C,  was  mortally  wounded  while  gathering  kindlings  for  his 
fire.  He  was  at  the  rear  with  only  thirty  days  more  to 
serve,  and  was  in  high  anticipation  of  returning  home.  He 
survived  but  an  hour. 

During  the  summer  Capt.  George  W.  Bartlett  and  Lieut. 
W.  Chapin  Hunt,  who  had  been  on  duty  in  North  Carolina  as 
provost  marshals  of  Beaufort  and  New  Berne,  rejoined  the 
regiment.  These  officers,  with  Capts.  Gas  well,  Bailey,  and 
McKay,  and  Lieut.  Jillson,  successively  held  command  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  The  demands  of  the  cam 
paign  were  so  exacting  and  incessant  that  none  but  men  of 
iron  constitution  could  meet  them  without  sooner  or  later 
requiring  hospital  care.  As  a  fact,  the  only  officers  who  did 
meet  this  strain  were  Surgeon  D.  B.  N.  Fish  and  Lieut 
Edwin  L.  Peck,  both  of  whom  were  always  present  for  duty. 
Despite  the  constant  accessions  to  our  ranks  from  men  return 
ing  as  convalescents,  and  from  special  duty,  no  gain  in 
numerical  strength  was  made.  The  following  abstract  from 
the  consolidated  weekly  reports  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  Regt.  shows  the  strength  of  the  command  present  for 
duty  before  Petersburg,  from  week  to  week :  — 


RATIONS  —  ONLY   TWENTY-SEVEN    CENTS.  355 

Officers  and  men. 

June  18th,  aggregate  strength,                               -,  203 

25th,          "               "......-.  183 

July      2d,          "               "           ....  189 

9th,          "               "           ....  187 

16th,          "               "  195 

23d,          "               "  195 

30th,          "               "  194 

Aug.  6th,  "  **•  ....  184 

13th,  "  "  186 

20th,  "  "  183 

Much  of  the  time  our  rations  consisted  of  hardtack  and 
pork,  and  often  these  supplies  were  limited.  The  lack  ot 
vegetables  induced  many  disorders,  and  though  the  Sanitary 
Commission  undertook  to  furnish  them,  their  supplies  were 
but  as  drops  in  the  ocean  of  our  needs.  Potatoes,  cabbages, 
and  onions  were  the  great  necessities.  Sutlers'  supplies  were 
so  high  few  could  afford  to  indulge  in  them,  and  this,  without 
doubt,  proved  a  blessing  in  disguise.  The  regular  ration  for 
the  private  soldier,  if  furnished  in  full,  and  properly  cared 
for,  was  more  than  he  actually  needed  ;  and  in  this  respect 
the  privates  were  sometimes  better  off  than  the  officers,  for 
the  latter  were  furnished  nothing  by  government  except 
quarters,  transportation,  and  forage  for  their  horses.  They 
had  to  buy  all  their  clothing  and  equipments,  and  provide 
themselves  with  food,  and  this  often  without  money,  owing 
to  the  failure  of  the  government  to  pay  them  for  five  or  six 
months  at  a  time.  One  of  our  captains  expressed  the  pecu 
niary  circumstances  of  many  of  our  officers  by  saying  that, 
' '  if  lard  was  twenty  cents  a  barrel ,  he  couldn't  buy  enough 
to  grease  his  hair."  While,  at  another  time,  a  diligent  search 
for  money  to  help  the  lieutenant-colonel  pay  the  charges  on 
an  express  package,  revealed  only  twenty-seven  cents  among 
all  the  officers  present. 

Our   extremity   was   Lieut.    Peck's    "opportunity,"   for, 


356  TAVENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

while  suffering  from  too  great  familiarity  with  our  reliable 
hardtack  and  pork,  he  concocted,  discovered  or  invented  a 
dish,  which  he  appropriately  named  "  scouse."  The  name 
was  unquestionably  classic,  as  Lieut.  Peck  was  a  graduate  of 
the  Westfield  Normal  School.  The  modus  operandi  was  to 
break  up  the  hardtack  somewhat  fine  in  cold  water,  and  boil 
it  with  pork,  seasoning  with  salt  and  pepper  (if  you  had 
them).  Had  Lieut.  Peck  had  other  supplies,  there  is  little 
reason  to  suppose  his  inventive  genius  would  have  rested 
until  he  had  eclipsed  Delmonico's  fame,  but  as  this  was  the 
extent  of  his  resources,  he  was  forced  to  be  satisfied.  At 
any  rate  ' '  scouse  "  became  a  deservedly  popular  dish  with 
our  entire  army,  and  had  they  known  the  lieutenant,  his  popu 
larity  would  have  equalled  that  of  his  dish.  He  has  with 
stood  the  charms  of  the  opposite  sex  with  a  success  akin  to 
that  which  he  had  on  the  field,  and  is  still  a  bachelor  forlorn. 
To  the  misfortune  of  insufficient  rations  were  the  addi 
tional  ones  of  fleas,  sand-flies  and — yes,  lice,  —  for  we  were 
lousy  from  generals  down  to  the  lowest  soldier,  and  we 
couldn't  help  it.  The  fleas  must  have  been  of  the  genus 
"  pulex  irriians"  for  the  irritation  to  us  involved  both  soul 
and  body,  and  too  often  found  vent  in  violent  spasms  of 
oaths  and  athletic  exercises,  in  the  last  of  which  we  were 
generally  distanced.  The  fleas  were  invaluable  auxiliaries 
along  the  picket  line  in  sustaining  wakefulness,  and  were  never 
half  appreciated.  The  friendship  of  the  trio  named  above 
was  fully  demonstrated,  for  no  adversity  was  able  to  sepa 
rate  them  from  us.  Heat  or  cold,  rain  or  shine,  shell  or 
shot,  only  strengthened  their  attachment.  They  had,  too,  a 
most  convincing  way  of  expressing  their  feeling  for  us.  It 
is  an  admitted  fact  that  change  of  water  was  the  only 
greater  evil  to  which  the  army  was  exposed.  They  were  a 
constant  sap  at  the  source  of  life,  and  must  be  fought 
against,  thougfh  only  to  lessen  the  nuisance  instead  of  rid- 

O  D  •/ 

ding  ourselves  of  the  pests. 


EXTREMES PICKET-LINE.  357 

Our  supply  of  water  was  much  of  the  time  a  question  of 
primary  importance  ;  such  as  we  had  being  obtained  a  half  a 
mile  to  the  rear.  Those  at  the  left  were  less  fortunate  than 
ourselves,  depending  on  the  scanty  supply  brought  by  drays. 
During  July  the  intense  heat  and  lack  of  rain  caused  great 
distress,  and  a  good  drink  of  water  was  a  real  luxury. 
No  rain  fell  from  the  3d  of  June  until  the  19th  of  July ;  the 
marshes  and  streams  of  considerable  size  were  dried  up,  and 
the  dust  was  so  deep  as  to  occasion  great  suffering.  This 
was  succeeded  by  a  rainy  season.  The  trenches  then  became 
one  vast  pool  of  slimy  yellow  mud,  and  bombproofs  and 
gopher-holes  were  filled  to  the  brim  with  water.  For  many 
days  we  were  drenched  to  the  skin,  and  smeared  from  head 
to  foot  with  mud.  We  were  perfect  embodiments  of  squalor 
and  filth.  Like  the  Israelites  of  old  who  desired  meat,  and 
were  given  until  they  loathed  it,  so  fully  were  our  longings 
for  water  satisfied. 

Our  positions  in  the  trenches  were  for  the  most  part 
unsheltered,  and  subjected  to  the  intense  heat  of  the  sun, 
which  often  rose  to  one  hundred  and  ten  degrees  in  the 
shade.  This  would  be  succeeded  by  the  chill  and  damps  of 
the  night,  which  in  time  permeated  the  body  with  rheumatic 
pains.  During  the  rainy  season,  many  of  the  dead  (who 
were  buried  June  18th)  were  uncovered  on  the  field  in 
front  of  us,  and  the  air  was  laden  with  a  burdening  nausea. 
This  hideous  sight  was  ever-present,  reminding  us  of  the 
possibilities  before  us,  and  our  feeble  tenure  of  life. 

The  daily  New  York  press  supplied  us  with  news,  and 
we  were  several  times  encouraged  by  the  news  that  "  picket 
firing  had  entirely  ceased  before  Petersburg ;  "  but  somehow 
the  information  never  reached  the  picket-line.  First  a  ball 
would  spat  into  the  dirt ;  then,  with  a  tz-z-p,  a  little  fellow 
would  travel  past  as  the  compliment  of  some  sharpshooter 
from  a  tree  within  the  rebel  lines.  A  cur-r-r-r  would  come 
singing  from  a  rifle  at  the  right,  then  a  whistle  at  the  left, 


358  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

suggesting  "that  Minie  has  struck  and  glanced,"  while 
another  comes  alone:  with  a  hum  like  a  nail  whirling:  in  the 

O  O 

air,  and  which  we  think  is  a  ball  almost  spent.  All 
this  was  very  unpleasant,  as  many  were  killed  and  wounded 
by  such  occurrences  each  day,  and  we  were  glad  the  papers 
had  determined  to  stop  them.  Thus  we  lived,  no  worse 
than  the  entire  army  with  which  we  were  connected,  no 
better. 

By  the  first  of  July,  the  rebel  defences  before  Petersburg 
were  so  perfect,  that  Gen'l  Lee  considered  his  position 
impregnable  to  assault.  He  therefore  determined  upon  a 
diversion, — as  in  years  past, — hoping  by  threatening  the 
national  capital  to  force  the  withdrawal  of  the  besieging 
force  from  Petersburg,  or  so  much  of  it  as  to  leave  its 
weakened  lines  at  his  mercy.  Accordingly,  Gen'l  Jubal 
Early  with  fifteen  thousand  men,  was  dispatched  through  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  and,  reinforcing  the  rebel  army  in  the 
valley,  made  his  appearance  before  Martinsburg  July  3d ; 
Frederick,  Md.,  July  7th  ;  and  by  the  afternoon  of  July  llth, 
was  before  Fort  Stevens,  part  of  the  fortifications  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  Washington.  The  Nineteenth  Corps 
had  just  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  from  New  Orleans,  when 
information  of  this  invasion  reached  Gen'l  Grant.  The 
Sixth  Corps  was  temporarily  detached  from  the  army  before 
Petersburg,  and  with  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  arrived  at  the 
threatened  capital  just  before  the  appearance  of  Early's  force 
before  Fort  Stevens.  The  12th,  a  spirited  engagement 
occurred  before  Washington,  after  which  the  enemy  beat  a 
hasty  retreat.  From  that  moment  Gen'l  Lee  admitted  that 
the  fate  of  the  Confederacy  was  sealed. 

July  20th,  Maj.  Gen'l  W.  F.  Smith,  who  had  been  absent 
some  days  from  his  command,  was  relieved  by  order  of 
Lieut.  Gen'l  Grant,  and  Maj.  Gen'l  E.  O.  C.  Ord  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps.  It  was  with  gen 
uine  regret  we  parted  with  this  able  and  efficient  commander ; 


GEN'L  SMITH'S  FAREWELL.  359 

his  farewell  address  faithfully  interpreted  the  feelings  of  his 
command. 

HEADQUARTERS  EIGHTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS,  July  20,  1864. 
To  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Eighteenth  Army  Corps : 

I  part  with  you  in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  lieutenant- 
general  commanding  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  with  great 
regret ;  and  my  highest  pride  is  that  you  share  my  feelings.  Since 
I  have  been  your  commander  I  have  tried  to  share  with  you  your 
dangers,  and  have  rejoiced  with  you  in  }rour  gallant  deeds.  During 
this  time  your  record  has  been  bright  and  unsullied.  Whatever  in 
it  has  not  been  all  that  you  could  wish,  I  can  assure  you  has  been 
from  no  fault  or  shortcoming  of  3'ours,  and  I  trust  you  will  believe 
that  I  have  been  no  more  culpable  than  yourselves. 

May  God  bless  and  always  crown  your  efforts  with  victory  ! 

(Signed)  W.   F.    SMITH,    Maj.  Gen'l. 

[Official.] 

W.  F.  RUSSELL,  Major  and  A.  A.  Gen'L 

Maj.  Gen'l  Smith  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  a  gradu 
ate  of  West  Point  in  the  corps  of  engineers.  He  was  Gen'l 
Grant's  chief  engineer  during  his  command  of  the  Military 
Division  of  the  Department  of  Mississippi,  and  took  an  his 
toric  part  in  the  battle  of  Chattanooga.  He  served  with  dis 
tinction  also  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  a 
brave  and  accomplished  general,  distinguished  for  his  stra 
tegic  grasp,  military  foresight,  and  fearless  spirit.  He  was 
the  embodiment  of  soldierly  qualities,  and  the  idol  of  his 
troops.  He  was  familiarly  known  among  his  troops  as 
"  Baldy  Smith,"  and  his  presence  always  awakened  intense 
enthusiasm. 

July  26th,  Gen'l  Hancock  and  a  portion  of  the  Second 
Corps  with  a  body  of  cavalry,  crossed  the  James  River  at 
"  Deep  Bottom,"  threatening  Richmond  from  the  north  of  the 
James.  No  important  result  accrued  from  this  save  as  it  drew 
away  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  from  Petersburg,  and 
facilitated  a  movement  about  to  be  executed  by  the  Union  army. 


360          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

During  the  month  of  July,  Gen'l  Burnside,  by  permission 
of  the  commanding  general,  had  succeeded  (through  the 
Forty-Eighth  Pennsylvania  Regiment)  in  mining  a  rebel  fort 
on  his  immediate  front,  and  four  o'clock  the  morning  of  July 
30th,  was  the  time  fixed  for  exploding  the  mine.  At  eleven 
o'clock  P.M.,  the  29th,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  in  com 
mon  with  most  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  moved  to  the  scene 
of  action,  the  corps  massing  fifteen  columns  deep  in  the  rear 
of  the  Ninth  Corps  and  immediately  in  front  of  the  fated  fort. 
A  slight  eminence  interposed  between  us  and  the  enemy,  pro 
tecting  us  from  their  observation  and  fire.  Intense  excite 
ment  prevailed  as  word  was  passed  along  the  line  of  the 
intended  explosion,  but  all  commotion  was  suppressed.  The 
lingering  hours  dragged  heavily,  but  nothing  on  the  rebel 
side  indicated  a  suspicion  of  their  peril.  Four  o'clock,  and 
for  an  hour  every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  fated  work,  until  at 
five  o'clock,  a  solid  mass  of  earth,  guns,  and  men,  rose  like 
a  dark  cloud  two  hundred  feet  in  the  air,  with  a  shock  that 
seemed  to  rend  the  earth.  Like  forked  lightning  the  flash 

O  O 

of  powder  pierced  the  cloud  of  debris ;  and  earth,  arma 
ment,  and  men  fell  with  a  heavy  thud.  A  black  cloud  hung 
for  a  moment  over  the  spot,  then  floated  to  the  north  as  if 
shrinking  from  the  carnage  and  destruction  it  had  created. 
It  is  understood  that  this  fort  at  the  time  of  the  explosion 
was  occupied  by  the  Palmetto  Battery  with  the  Eighteenth 
and  part  of  the  Twenty-Third  S.  C.  Regiments. 

At  the  instant  of  the  explosion,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
pieces  of  artillery  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  as  by  an  elec 
tric  touch,  opened  upon  the  enemy's  position,  pouring  a 
merciless  fire  of  destruction  along  their  lines.  A  mass  of 
infantry  bounded  over  our  works  and  across  the  field  into  the 
chasm  created  by  the  explosion.  Why  they  went  into  it 
no  one  could  imagine  ;  why  they  halted  there  was  equally 
beyond  conjecture,  as  the  panic-stricken  rebels  had  deserted 
their  works  and  made  little  opposition  to  the  Union  advance. 


THE    MINE    FIASCO.  361 

The  surprise  and  rout  was  complete,  but  our  forces  seemed 
like  an  incoherent  mass,  and  could  not  or  would  not  move 
forward.  The  enemy  soon  rallied  upon  the  flanks,  and  Gen'l 
Mahone  by  a  covered  way  brought  heavy  reinforcements  to 
their  support,  pouring  into  the  seething  mass  of  Union  troops 
a  frightful  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  which  threatened 
to  fill  the  chasm  with  the  slain.  It  was  a  sight  which  appalled 
the  stoutest  heart,  so  needless,  so  ghastly,  so  crushing  !  In 
a  brief  space  of  time,  hardly  exceeding  that  required  to  pen 
this  account,  four  thousand  of  our  men  were  killed  or  cap 
tured.  Even  now  this  scene  hangs  like  a  horrid  nightmare 
over  the  remembrance  of  years. 

There  was  no  opportunity  for  the  Eighteenth  Corps  to  en 
gage  in  the  fray,  for  the  field  before  us  was  clogged  with 
struggling  troops.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  sustained  the 
following  casualties  :  — 

George  Gilmore,  Company  B,  Hinsdale,  wounded  by  a  shell. 
Patrick  Coffee,  Company  G,  Northampton,  wounded  by  a  shell. 

Gen'l  Grant  appeared  at  the  scene  during  the  afternoon,  his 
determined  countenance  indicating  much  excitement.  The 
careworn,  distressed  look  of  Gen'l  Burnside  revealed  his 
keen  disappointment  and  chagrin  over  the  failure  of  a  plan 
which  promised  so  much  for  our  arms.  The  night  of  the 
30th,  the  Eighteenth  Corps  returned  to  their  place  at  the 
right  of  the  line. 

The  whole  movement  was  thoroughly  investigated  by  a 
Congressional  Committee,  who  reported  as  the  cause  of  fail 
ure  :  first,  that  the  charge  was  led  by  white,  instead  of  black 
troops  ;  and  second,  that  Gen'l  Meade  directed  that  the  assault 
ing  column  should  push  for  Cemetery  Hill,  instead  of  clearing 
the  enemy's  lines  to  the  right  and  left  of  them.  The  first 
finding  was  based  on  the  statement  of  Gen'l  Burnside,  that 

O  7 

he  had  been  drilling  his  colored  troops  for  some  time  for  the 
occasion,  and  that  during  the  night  previous  he  received  per- 


362          TWENTY- SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

emptory  orders  from  Gen'l  Meade  to  use  white  troops  only 
for  the  assault.  Gen'l  Burnside  claimed  that  the  time  inter 
vening  was  insufficient  to  arrange  for  their  disposition  and 
instruction . 

A  Military  Court  of  Inquiry  consisting  of  Gen'ls  Hancock, 
Ayres,  and  Miles,  found  the  causes  of  the  failure  to  be  — 

"  First.  — The  injudicious  formation  of  the  troops  in  going  for 
ward,  the  movement  being  made  b}T  flank  instead  of  extended 
front.  ...  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  ourt  there  was  no  proper 
column  of  assault.  The  troops  should  have  been  formed  in  the 
open  ground  in  front  of  the  point  of  attack,  parallel  to  the  enemy's 
works.  The  evidence  shows  that  one  or  more  columns  might  have 
passed  over  to  the  left  of  the  crater  without  an}'  previous  prepara 
tion  of  the  ground. 

"  Second. — The  halting  of  the  troops  in  the  crater  instead  of 
going  forward  to  the  crest  where  there  was  no  fire  of  consequence 
from  the  enemy. 

"  Third.  —  No  proper  employment  of  engineer  officers~and  work 
ing  parties,  and  the  lack  of  materials  and  tools  for  their  use  in  the 
Ninth  Corps. 

"  Fourth.  — That  some  parts  of  the  assaulting  column  were  not 
properly  led. 

'"Fifth. — The  want  of  a  competent  common  head  at  the  scene 
of  assault,  to  direct  as  occurrences  should  demand."  ...  —  Con 
duct  of  the  TFar,  vol.  /.,  page  215. 

Gen'l  Burnside  sharply  arraigned  Gen'l  Meade  in  this  mat 
ter,  claiming  that  the  chief  difficulty  was  the  jealousy  of 
Gen'l  Meade,  who  in  every  conceivable  way  misconstrued  his 
correspondence,  and  hampered  his  movements.  While  Gen'l 
Meade  held  him  responsible  for  the  whole  project,  he  was 
jealous  of  a  possible  success  by  Gen'l  Burnside,  and  hence 
failed  to  co-operate  effectively  in  the  movements.  From 
Such  a  person  as  Gen'l  Burnside,  this  statement  will  largely 
establish  his  claim.  He  had  waived  seniority  of  rank  over 
Gen'l  Meade  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign  for  the  general 


THE    REBELS    MINE    OUR    POSITION.  363 

good,  and  had  in  everyway  respected  him  as  a  superior  offi 
cer.  The  admitted  modesty  and  self-abnegation  of  Gen'l 
Burnside,  establishes  presumptive  evidence  of  grounds  for 
such  a  complaint.  Still  we  cannot  avoid  saying  that  drawing 
lots  for  brigades  and  commanders  for  such  perilous  and  impor 
tant  work,  was  not  in  accordance  with  prudence  and  good  judg 
ment,  nor  in  keeping  with  Gen'l  Burnside's  usual  good  sense. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  had  able  commanders  and  sub 
ordinate  officers  led  the  assaulting  column,  the  day  would 
have  witnessed  a  glorious  victory  for  our  arms,  if  not  the 
capture  of  Petersburg.  The  time  was  opportune  because  an 
important  part  of  Lee's  army  were  absent  near  Deep  Bottom, 
on  the  James, 'whither  Hancock's  raid  of  the  26th  had  drawn 
them.  The  project  promised  great  results ;  it  failed  in  the 
execution  of  its  details. 

As  an  effect  of  the  mine  explosion  a  sense  of  insecurity 
sprang  up  along  both  lines.  At  points  where  our  fortifica 
tions  ran  close  to  the  enemy's,  our  sharpshooters  would  joke 
them  about  the  mine,  asking  them  how  they  liked  to  go  to 
heaven  that  way,  and  if  they  were  ready  to  go ;  but  it  was 
evidently  a  sore  subject  for  our  men  too,  as  they  constantly 
expected  a  similar  experience.  A  sap  had  been  run  from 
our  lines  to  within  about  fifty  feet  of  the  rebel  fortifications, 
and  was  occupied  by  portions  of  the  Star  Brigade.  Our  sharp 
shooters  at  this  close  range  had  so  covered  the  enemy's  works 
as  to  threaten  their  capture.  This  sap  was  occupied  by  the 
Twenty-Third  and  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regiments  on  the 
4th  and  5th  of  August.  During  the  4th  suspicious  sounds  were 
heard  which  satisfied  us  that  the  enemy  were  mining  close  by, 
awaking  not  over  comfortable  sensations.  There  is  no  inse 
curity  quite  like  that  of  feeling  that  the  ground  beneath  you 
is  likely  to  engulf  you  at  any  moment.  About  five  o'clock, 
the  morning  of  the  5th,  we  were  suddenly  aroused  by  an 
explosion  just  in  front  of  our  works,  which  buried  us  in  a 
cloud  of  debris  and  smoke,  but  with  no  greater  injury  than 


364  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

a  genuine  scare,  as  the  enemy  had  miscalculated  the  distance. 
The  explosion  was  followed  by  a  sortie  of  the  enemy  under 
cover  of  a  sharp  artillery  fire,  but  they  were  hurled  back  to 
their  intrenchments  with  heavy  loss.  The  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  though  in  the  sharpest  of  the  engagement,  were  well 
protected  by  the  intrenchments,  and  hence  escaped  unharmed. 
Col.  Steadman,  commander  of  Steadman's  Brigade  (next  to 
us  in  line),  was  killed  during  this  action. 

With  our  time  fully  occupied  in  such  perilous  work,  the 
summer  months  were  quickly  passed.  There  was  no  cessa 
tion  of  strife,  nor  recognition  of  the  Sabbath.  Occasionally 
there  would  be  a  brief  respite,  caused  by  our  band  or  those 
of  the  enemy,  tauntingly  discoursing  their  national  airs  at 
the  front.  Such  respites,  however,  were  very  rare,  but 
were  heartily  enjoyed.  August  24th,  the  Star  Brigade 
received  marching  orders,  but  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass, 
was  not  relieved  from  the  trenches  until  nearly  daylight  the 
25th  inst.,  when  it  followed  the  brigade  which  had  preceded 
it  to  Point  of  Eocks.  As  we  crossed  the  Appomattox,  Gen'l 
Heckman,  our  former  commander,  rode  up,  and  was  received 
with  a  wild  round  of  cheers  and  "  tigers,"  such  as  only  vet 
eran  soldiers  know  how  to  give  to  a  trusted  leader.  After  the 
enthusiasm  had  subsided,  he  greeted  us  with  a  short  but 
pregnant  speech,  closing  by  hoping  to  meet  us  soon  amid  the 
familiar  scenes  of  North  Carolina.  We  were  assigned  to  a 
camp  near  the  breastworks  at  Cobb's  Hill,  which  seemed  a 
very  eligible  situation.  Our  experiences  were,  however, 
graphically  described  in  a  letter  by  Surgeon  Fish. 

"  We  had  everything  just  done,  ready  to  lie  down  and  rest  our 
selves,  when  orders  came  to  load  everything  in  the  wagons  immedi 
ately,  as  we  were  to  move  to  the  right.  You  know  there  is  nothing 
like  a  little  urging  on  a  fellow  when  he  is  hard  at  work  ;  and  so  the 
rebels  thought.  First  came  a  shell  a  few  feet  over  our  heads,  and 
burst  in  the  rear ;  then  a  second  shot  struck  about  ten  feet  from 
headquarters,  throwing  dirt  on  me ;  ricochetted,  just  missing  the 


INTERCHANGE    ON    THE    PICKET-LINE.  365 

head  of  one  of  our  drummer  bo}"s  as  he  stooped  down ;  barety  es 
caped  the  horses  in  front  of  headquarters,  and  then  passed  on. 
You  may  easily  believe  that  the  wagons  were  quickly  loaded  and 
out  of  the  way,  and  we  took  for  the  breastworks.  We  moved  to  the 
right,  then  countermarched  to  the  left,  and  at  length  settled  for  the 
night  just  in  the  rear  of  the  position  which  we  had  left  so  sud 
denly.  This  may  be  rest,  but  the  style  is  peculiar  to  the  Eighteenth 
Corps.  We  are  waiting  orders  to  move  to  the  right,  and  have  not 
pitched  our  tents.  Had  a  ducking  last  night  (of  course  !)  ;  first  a 
real  whirlwind,  and  then  a  small  flood." 

In  spite  of  such  shifting  and  ducking  our  jaded  men  sank 
down  to  rest,  —  such  rest  as  one  only  knows  how  to  enjoy 
who  has  been  robbed  of  its  recuperative  power  to  almost  the 
verge  of  endurance. 

The  Confederates  on  our  front  proved  to  be  the  same 
troops  which  were  opposed  to  us  at  Drewry's  Bluff.  Good 
feeling  existed  while  we  remained,  between  the  opposing 
pickets,  both  armies  drawing  their  supply  of  water  from  a 
brook  between  the  lines.  Here  the  opponents  met  and 
recounted  their  war  experiences  in  a  friendly  way  and  ex 
changed  papers,  or  what  was  quite  as  much  appreciated, 
swapped  yankee  coffee  for  rebel  tobacco. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  Lieut.  Edwin  L.  Peck  was  in 
command  of  the  picket  line,  and  while  visiting  a  remote 
station,  wandered  outside  of  the  lines.  He  suddenly  espied 
a  rebel  officer,  who,  like  himself,  was  taking  advantage  of 
the  friendly  feeling,  in  a  saunter  through  these  middle 
grounds.  Signs  of  truce  were  interchanged,  when  the 
officers  came  together  with  a  cordial  grasp  of  hands.  After 
a  long  and  friendly  conversation,  papers  and  autographs 
were  exchanged,  the  Confederate  officer  being  Lieut.  Wash 
ington  A.  Elliott,  Company  B,  Eleventh  Virginia  Regiment 
of  Kemper's  Brigade.  A  close  and  lasting  friendship  sprang 
up  between  these  officers,  resulting  in  another  meeting  the 
following  week,  and  in  an  interchange  of  correspondence 


366          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

and  visits  since  the  war.  Lieut.  Elliott  speaks  unqualifiedly 
of  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  Star  Brigade  at  Drewry's  Bluff 
and  the  good  faith  with  which  they  maintained  the  truce 
along  the  picket  line  before  Bermuda  Hundreds.  It  is  not 
denied  that  such  proceedings  were  breaches  of  military 
discipline,  but  it  is  a  matter  of  fact  that  such  meetings 
were  of  daily  occurrence.  They  developed  the  better 
nature  of  those  engaged  in  this  great  conflict,  and  gave 
occasion  for  many  mirthful  and  grotesque  experiences. 


RETURN  OF  THE  VETERANS.  3G7 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

RETURN    OF    THE    VETERANS. 

THERE  had  been  frequent  rumors  that  we  were  to  return 
to  North  Carolina,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  hint  in 
Gen'l  Heckman's  speech,  made  upon  our  arrival  at  Point  of 
Rocks,  was  not  without  official  authority.  We  were  not 
greatly  surprised,  therefore,  September  6th,  to  learn  that 
the  Twenty-Third  and  Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regiments  had 
embarked  for  New  Berne,  N.  C.  They  reached  that  port 
the  llth  inst.  September  9th,  Capt.  Moore,  who  had  now 
mustered  as  major  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  returned 
to  the  regiment,  but  was  as  }'et  unable  to  assume  its  com 
mand.  September  10th  was  one  of  the  most  trying  days 
in  our  army  experience.  Our  knapsacks  were  received 
from  Portsmouth,  Va.,  where  they  had  been  stored  since  the 
last  of  April.  It  was  sad  to  look  them  over,  each  being 
plainly  marked  by  stencil-plate  with  the  name  of  its  owner. 
Brothers  wept  over  the  knapsacks  of  brothers  whom  the 
ravages  of  war  had  long  since  laid  low  in  death,  or  be 
wailed  the  uncertain  fate  of  those  who  had  fallen  into 
rebel  hands,  and  from  whom  no  tidings  had  come  dur 
ing  these  eventful  months.  All  the  little  valuables  and 
necessaries  a  soldier  would  prize  were  carefully  packed 
within,  with  many  tokens  and  reminders  of  friends  at  home. 
The  knapsacks  of  the  missing  and  dead  were  carefully  sent 
to  their  friends  at  home. 


368  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   EEGIMENT. 

During  our  absence  from  Portsmouth,  the  place  of  storage 
had  been  entered  by  persons  unknown,  and  most  of  our 
records  and  valuables  stolen.  The  loss  of  our  records  has 
proved  a  serious  one  to  the  regiment,  for  it  has  made  it  im 
possible  to  establish  many  facts  and  dates ;  while  it  also 
accounts  for  the  absence  of  many  official  orders  and  reports 
which  would  naturally  appear  with  its  history.  It  has  also 
added  greatly  to  the  labor  of  preparing  this  account  of  their 
services  and  may  excuse  much  of  its  incompleteness. 

September  17th,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth 
New  Jersey  received  marching  orders,  and  embarking  upon 
the  steamer  "  Convoy,"  arrived  at  Portsmouth  that  evening, 
where  we  were  gladdened  by  the  appearance  of  our  Col. 
H.  C.  Lee,  whose  safe  return  was  greeted  with  vociferous 
and  prolonged  cheers.  He  had  remained  in  durance  vile 
until  August,  when  both  he  and  Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew 
were  exchanged,  and  on  arrival  North,  were  granted  leave 
of  absence  to  recover  from  their  debilitating  confinement. 
Knowing  that  the  term  of  enlistment  of  a  large  number  of  the 
regiment  expired  in  September,  Col.  Lee  was  hastening  to 
the  army  with  a  view  of  facilitating  their  discharge,  and  met 
us,  as  stated,  upon  our  arrival  "  from  the  front."  By  proper 
representations  he  obtained  a  telegraphic  order  from  the 
War  Department,  detaching  from  the  regiment  those  men 
whose  term  expired  in  September ;  and  an  additional  order 
from  Gen'l  Butler,  that  these  should  report  at  once  at  their 
place  of  muster  for  discharge.  This  timely  action  on  the 
part  of  Col.  Lee  saved  our  returning  veterans  much  annoy 
ance  and  risk,  for  had  they  .returned  to  North  Carolina,  the 
prevalence  and  fatality  of  yellow  fever  in  that  department 
would  have  delayed  their  departure  for  home  and  necessi 
tated  a  tedious  quarantine  at  Northern  ports,  not  to  speak 
of  the  probability  that  many  would  have  fallen  victims  to 
that  fatal  malady. 


VETERANS  RETURNING  HOME.  3H9 

The  record  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Eegt.,  Septem 
ber  9th,  showed  its  condition  to  be  as  follows  :  — 

Officers  and  men  present,    .....  233 

"  "on  detached  service,  .         .         .  128 

"  "     absent  with  leave  (prisoners),    .  259* 

"  "     absent  sick  or  wounded,     .         .  218 

"  "     absent  without  leave,         .         .  1 

Aggregate  strength  of  the  regiment,    .         .         .         839 

Of  this  number  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  were  reported 
for  discharge,  but  only  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  were 
able  to  attend  the  column  on  its  homeward  journey.  Three 
hundred  and  four  officers  and  men  remained  with  unexpired 
terms  of  enlistment,  and  of  this  number  only  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four  were  present  for  duty.  These  were  removed 
to  the  transport  steamer  "  United  States,"  under  command 
of  Maj.  John  W.  Moore. 

The  veterans  were  delayed  at  Fortress  Monroe  until  the 
23d  inst.,  when  Capt.  McKay  and  Adjt.  Joseph  "W.  Holmes 
were  ordered  to  proceed  north  with  the  detachment,  and 
arrived  at  New  York  by  steamer  early  Sunday  morning, 
the  27th  inst.  From  lack  of  transportation  they  were  de 
tained  until  evening,  when  they  took  the  steamer  "  Dupont" 
for  New  Haven,  at  which  place  they  arrived  the  morning  of 
the  27th. 

Monday  noon,  the  28th,  a  signal-gun  at  Springfield  an 
nounced  the  departure  of  the  regiment  from  Hartford,  and 
various  organizations  by  a  previous  agreement  hastily  con 
vened  and  repaired  to  the  depot,  where,  at  half-past  twelve, 
a  second  gun  announced  their  arrival.  As  the  train  moved 
into  the  depot  a  salvo  from  the  Union  Battery,  and  cheers 
from  the  multitude,  welcomed  back  to  the  old  Bay  State  and 

*  Six  of  this  number  should  have  been  reported  among  the  killed,  but  in  the  absence 
of  such  knowledge  they  were  properly  included  as  above. 


370  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

to  their  homes,  this  battalion  of  battle-scarred  veterans. 
Two  days'  notice  had  been  given  that  the  regiment  was  on 
the  journey  home,  and  the  distant  hamlets  of  Berkshire  and 
Franklin,  by  delegations  of  kindred  and  friends,  joined 
greetings  with  Hampden,  Hampshire,  and  Western  Worces 
ter,  in  the  safe  return  of  their  sons  from  the  field. 

Hastily  leaving  the  cars,  the  men  were  given  a  few  moments 
for  the  embrace  and  congratulations  of  friends,  when  they 
formed  in  line  on  Railroad  Row,  and  fell  into  the  rear  of  the 
procession  organized  for  their  escort.  The  attentions  shown 
were  alike  honorable  to  the  city,  and  flattering  to  those  upon 
whom  they  were  bestowed,  and  the  more  so  when  we  con 
sider  the  little  time  allowed  for  preparation.  The  procession 
moved  in  the  following  order  :  — 

Hon.  A.  D.  Briggs,  Chief  Marshal,  and  Assistants. 

Armory  Cornet  Band. 

Engineers  of  the  Fire  Department. 

Union  Fire  Company. 

Military  Band. 

Constitution  Fire  Company. 

Monitor  Fire  Company. 

Drum  Corps. 

American  Hook  and  Ladder  Company. 

City  Government  and  Citizens. 

Union  Battery,  Capt.  Wells. 

Drum  Corps. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment. 

Carriages  containing  Disabled  Members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
and  other  Regiments. 

The  column  moved  through  the  principal  streets,  which 
were  thronged  with  dense  and  cheering  crowds.  Patriotic 
emblems,  decorations,  and  welcomes  were  everywhere  dis 
played,  with  emblazoned  lists  of  engagements  in  which  the 
regiment  had  participated.  After  marching  up  Union  Street 
and  cheering  Col.  Lee  at  his  residence,  the  procession  coun 
termarched  to  Court  Square  and  formed  in  front  of  a  plat 
form  which  had  been  erected  near  the  Court  House.  After  a 


MAYOR  ALEXANDER'S  WELCOME.  371 

brief  and  appropriate  prayer  by  Rev.  L.  Clark  Seelye  (now 
president  of  the  Smith  College,  Northampton),  Mayor  Alex 
ander  welcomed  the  regiment  as  follows  :  — 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment:  From 
the  victorious  fields  of  Roanoke  and  New  Berne,  Goldsboro  and 
Kinston,  Little  Washington,  and  a  score  of  others  which  your 
bravery  has  made  historical,  we  welcome  you  back  to  }*our  homes 
and  ours,  in  the  dear  old  Commonwealth.  It  is  three  years  since 
3'ou  went  away.  An  abundant  harvest  had  filled  all  our  granaries  ; 
the  rewards  for  peaceful  labor  were  within  the  reach  of  every  man  ; 
we  had  never  heard  the  voice  of  the  enemy,  and  his  nearest  encamp 
ment  was  hundreds  of  miles  from  our  borders.  Leaving  every 
comfort  which  abundance,  art,  industry  and  peace  could  bestow  ; 
sundering  the  ties  which  happ}',  virtuous  and  prosperous  homes  had 
bound  about  you,  —  voluntarily,  joyfully,  you  assumed  the  hard 
ships  and  privations  of  soldiers,  to  defend  the  honor  of  the  Com 
monwealth,  and  the  integrity  of  the  Union.  Your  three  years  of 
patient  service,  your  twenty-two  battle-fields,  your  thinned  ranks, 
your  heroic  dead,  attest  how  truly  you  have  kept  your  faith.  You 
have  never  been  absent  from  our  thoughts.  Through  all  the 
changes  of  these  three  years  of  war  our  eyes  have  followed  you. 
In  the  solitary  encampments,  in  the  long  marches,  when  among  the 
mighty  hosts  upon  the  battle-field,  we  have  sought  out  and  kept 
sight  of  your  flag.  Your  dead  have  not  fallen  unnoticed  and  un- 
mourned  by  us.  Your  brave  comrades  were  our  sons  and  brothers, 
and  their  patriotic  courage  has  been  our  loudest  boast,  and  their 
untimely  death  our  saddest  sorrow.  Their  names,  their  brave  acts 
and  }*ours,  make  up  the  proud  history  of  this  regiment  which  you 
this  day  complete ;  a  history  which  will  ever  remain  as  an  example 
of  true  patriotism  and  courage,  which  will  furnish  a  bright  page  in 
the  annals  of  our  country,  and  give  to  our  local  tradition  "  the 
glow  of  romance  and  the  spirit  of  song." 

Your  career  as  soldiers  is  ended.  You  return  once  more  to  the 
peaceful  walks  of  civil  life.  You  have  your  duties  to  perform 
here ;  for  the  country  and  the  institutions  you  have  defended  are 
to  be  illustrated  by  your  lives  and  are  to  be  preserved  for  future 
generations  by  your  devotion  and  ours.  Do  not  be  disturbed  by 


372  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  cry  of  peace  at  any  price !  (Applause.)  The  work  which 
3'ou  have  commenced,  is  to  be  finished.  This  country  is  not  to 
be  surrendered  to  designing  politicians  and  cowardly  and  coppery 
traitors.  (Ringing  applause.)  All  the  blood  and  all  the  lives  that 
have  been  given  to  cement  and  make  strong  the  temple  of  liberty, 
and  to  make  this  country  forever,  and  all  over,  free,  shall  not  be 
lost  to  you,  or  your  brave  dead.  (Applause.)  Thrice  welcome, 
then,  to  your  homes  and  to  Massachusetts,  soldiers  who  have 
defended,  and  citizens  who  will  preserve,  our  noble  Union  forever 
and  forever. 

The  inspiration  of  the  hour  was  intensified  by  the  band 
leading  and  the  vast  throng  uniting  in  singing  Payne's  sweet 
song,  "Home,  Sweet  Home."  How  it  carried  us  back  to 
three  years  before,  when,  nine  hundred  and  eighty  strong,  we 
had  united  in  that  same  song  at  Camp  Reed  just  as  we  were 
to  leave  for  the  war.  One  hundred  and  seventy-nine  were 
there  ;  where  were  the  eight  hundred  and  one  now  absent 
from  our  ranks  ? 

After  singing,  Mayor  Alexander  said,  — 

Veterans  of  the  Twenty-Seventh :  We  have  on  the  platform  an 
esteemed  citizen  and  an  old  friend  of  yours.  He  had  much  to  do 
with  the  raising  of  your  regiment,  and  at  the  time  of  your  de 
parture,  he  spoke  you  words  of  encouragement  and  bade  you 
God-speed  on  your  patriotic  mission.  He  told  you  that  the 
clouds  that  then  hung  around  the  glorious  stars  and  stripes, 
would  in  God's  good  time  be  lifted  and  the  old  flag  wave  again 
in  all  its  original  brilliancy  and  beauty.  He  esteems  it  a  high 
privilege  to  be  here  to-daj*,  to  thank  you  in  behalf  of  the  city  of 
Springfield  and  Hampden  County,  for  the  gallant  service  you  have 
performed,  and  to  join  in  the  cordial  welcome  home. 

Ex-Mayor  Bemis  responded  : 

Officers  and  Members  of  the  Twenty- Seventh  Regiment:  I  am 
happy  to  join  with  his  honor  the  mayor,  and  my  fellow-citizens, 
in  welcoming  you  home  once  more,  after  the  perils  and  trials  you 
have  endured  in  defending  the  rights  and  the  interests  of  the 


EX-MAYOR    BEMIS'S    WOHDS    OF   CHEEK.  373 

country ;  first,  because  in  all  the  battles  in  which  }"ou  have  been 
engaged  yon  have  been  true  to  the  country ;  you  have  never 
turned  your  backs  to  the  enemy,  you  have  sustained  the  old  flag, 
and  kept  it  floating  in  the  breeze  amid  victory  or  defeat.  Second, 
I  promised,  when  taking  leave  of  you  as  you  were  about  to  go 
forth  to  join  the  army  of  the  Union,  to  keep  you  in  remembrance, 
and  whether  }-ou  returned  alive  and  in  health,  or  in  the  cold  em 
brace  of  death,  I  would  be  present  to  aid  in  doing  you  honor, 
either  with  the  laurel  or  the  cypress.  And  now  we  meet  —  you 
covered  with  glory  and  victory.  How  well  you  have  done  your 
duty  we  have  from  time  to  time  had  notice,  and  we  have  received 
the  rebel  flags,  emblems  of  your  valor,  and  they  have  more  than 
once  decorated  our  City  Hall,  where  your  friends  at  home  have  so 
often  met  to  consult  together  as  to  means  to  prosecute  the  war,  or 
to  render  aid  to  }TOU  and  others  on  the  distant  battle-fields. 

We  welcome  you  home  again  —  those  who  have  been  in  prison, 
as  well  as  those  of  you  who  were  placed  in  front  of  Charleston  to 
be  shot  down,  and  those  who  met  the  enemy  in  front  of  battle  — 
to  mingle  with  your  friends  and  fellow-citizens  in  the  peaceful  pur 
suits  of  civil  life,  to  greet  your  fathers,  mothers,  wives,  children, 
and  sweethearts  ;  and  to  make  your  homes  in  our  pleasant  valley, 
or  on  the  sides  of  our  mountains.  How  great  the  change  must  be 
to  you,  fresh  from  the  toil  and  hardships  of  war,  to  the  abodes  of 
peace  and  plenty !  Why,  I  should  rather  have  the  greetings  of 
the  honest  girls  of  Connecticut  valley  and  the  Berkshire  hills,  than 
of  all  the  slipshod  trash,  with  their  black  attendants,  that  line  the 
whole  Virginia  shore.  (Loud  laughter  and  applause.)  May  you 
have  the  satisfaction  of  living  to  a  good  old  age  to  recount  your 
deeds  of  valor  to  your  children  and  your  children's  children,  deeds 
to  be  handed  down  by  them  to  generations  yet  unborn.  Pardon 
me,  gentlemen,  if  I  hesitate,  for  I  haven't  made  a  speech  for  two 
years.  I  used  to  make  speeches,  when  I  had  the  vim  in  me,  but  I 
don't  talk  very  well  to-day,  though  I  am  considerably  excited. 
(Laughter  and  cheers.)  When  you  left,  I  cautioned  you  not  to 
allow  the  enemy  to  reach  their  long  spoons  across  the  pickets  to 
dip  into  your  porridge,  for  I  would  as  soon  go  into  the  lower 
regions  to  supper,  as  to  fraternize  in  the  least  with  those  who 
would  kill  and  murder  your  brothers  in  cold  blood.  But  you  have 


374  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

done  no  such  thing;  the  battles  of  New  Berne,  of  Kinston,  of 
Whitehall,  of  Cold  Harbor,  of  Fort  Darling,  and  hosts  of  other 
battles,  attest  j-our  fidelity  to  your  country  and  3Tour  determination 
to  meet  the  expectation  of  your  friends. 

But  what  tribute  shall  we  pay  to  the  departed  ones  —  to  those 
who  were  killed  in  battle  —  the  brave,  the  noble-hearted  Wilcox, 
who  held  a  captain's  commission  in  your  regiment  and  fell  in  the 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  whose  mortal  remains  now  rest  on  the 
soil  of  Old  Virginia  ?  Would  to  God  that  the  dust  of  our  brave 
men  who  sleep  their  last  sleep  on  her  soil,  may  tend  to  bring  to 
remembrance  hereafter  the  efforts  of  freemen  while  fighting  for 
liberty  and  right,  as  the}7  view  the  hillocks  which  cover  the  re 
mains  of  our  sainted  patriots  and  heroes. 

There  is  also  the  brave  Major  Walker,  who  fell  in  the  same 
battle,  and  the  brave  Capt.  Sandford,  who  fell  in  front  of  Fort 
Darling,  and  many  other  names  whose  memory  will  be  remem 
bered  and  cherished  while  freedom  and  liberty  have  a  home  in 
the  hearts  of  men.  Methinks  I  see  them  now  on  the  rugged  banks 
of  Jordan,  waiting  to  be  wafted  over  the  stream  !  I  can  almost 
see  the  alabaster  forms  of  the  departed  patriots  and  sainted  dead 
who  have  gone  before  them,  on  the  other  shore,  beckoning  them 
across  the  stream  to  the  glorious  plains  of  the  blessed  land. 
What  are  all  the  possessions  of  earth,  all  its  honors,  all  its  friend 
ships,  all  its  show,  all  its  vanity,  compared  to  a  peaceful  rest 
among  the  redeemed  in  heaven  ! 

"  So  fades  the  summer  cloud  away, 
So  sinks  the  gale  when  storms  are  o'er." 

May  you  have  a  pleasant  meeting  with  all  your  friends,  and  be 
prepared  to  meet  your  comrades  who  have  gone  before  you  to  the 
better  land. 

Col.  Lee  responded  to  the  address  of  welcome  :  — 

Mr.  Mayor  and  Citizens  of  Springfield :  In  behalf  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Regiment,  which  I  have  had  the  honor  to  command  for 
the  last  three  years,  I  tender  you  sincere  and  grateful  thanks  for 
this  83'rnpathetic  and  generous  reception.  Three  years  ago  you 
bade  us  farewell  with  a  hearty  God-speed.  We  were  then  one 


COLS.    LEE    AND    BARTHOLOMEW'S    REPLIES.  375 

thousand  strong,  and  were  afterwards  augmented  to  fifteen  hun 
dred,  and  we  come  back  to  you  to-day  with  the  small  number  you 
see  before  you.  Some  are  now  on  the  regiment's  old  camping 
ground  in  North  Carolina,  but  the  rest  are  in  Southern  prisons, 
or  their  bones  lie  on  the  fields  of  Roanoke,  New  Berne,  Goldsboro, 
Whitehall,  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  many  others.  There  you  will  find 
them.  It  has  been  my  lot  for  the  last  two  years  to  be  separated 
from  the  immediate  command  of  the  regiment,  and  I  can  conse 
quently  speak  without  egotism  in  its  praise.  There  are  none 
braver ;  no  men  in  the  army  ever  stood  higher ;  they  were  never 
backward  or  hesitating  when  called  upon  for  duty  of  &ny  kind. 
It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  thank  }-ou  for  this  reception — though 
in  looking  back  through  the  past  three  years,  in  thinking  of  the 
many  who  have  fallen  in  battle,  my  feelings  overcome  me,  and  I 
cannot  say  what  I  would  like  —  but  I  thank  you  most  sincerely. 

Three  times  three  cheers  were  then  given  for  the  regi 
ment,  the  escort,  the  army  and  the  Union,  when  loud  calls 
were  made  for  Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew,  who  responded :  — 

Brave  boys  !  I  am  very  happy  to  meet  you  again !  I  have  been 
absent  from  the  regiment  about  four  months,  but  you  know  not 
how  much  I  have  thought  of  }"ou.  I  expect  now  to  go  back,  and 
have  command  of  those  you  have  left.  I  am  sure  they  will  keep 
up  the  gallant  reputation  of  the  regiment,  for  no  braver  or  better 
men  ever  fought.  Some  of  you  will  want  to  re-enlist,  and  I  give 
you  all  an  invitation  to  join  the  Twenty-Seventh.  (Applause  and 
laughter,  with  voices,  "  We  will ! ")  I  have  been  home  now  six 
weeks,  and  though  I  have  been  well  treated,  it  is  too  quiet  for  me, 
and  I  want  to  be  back  where  there  is  more  going  on.  You,  I  am 
sure,  will  find  it  so,  too ;  but  I  must  now  bid  you  an  affectionate 
adieu. —  Boys!  If  anybody  should  ever  question  your  braveiy, 
send  them  to  me.  (Cheers  and  "  tigers.") 

At  half-past  two  the  order  was  given,  "Fall  in  for 
rations,"  and  we  marched  into  the  City  Hall,  where  a 
sumptuous  collation  awaited  us.  While  going  through 
the  knife  and  fork  manual,  a  choir  of  one  hundred  and 


376  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

fifty  misses  rendered  with  much  spirit,  "When  Johnny 
comes  marching  home  again;"  "Rally  round  the  Flag," 
and  "Just  before  the  Battle,  mother."  The  whole  recep 
tion  was  the  work  of  the  ladies ;  nor  was  it  the  first  time 
their  kind  hearts  and  ingenious  hands  had  been  enlisted  for 
our  good.  When  an  opportunity  was  offered  the  regiment, 
we  expressed  our  appreciation  by  three  lusty  cheers  for  the 
ladies,  and  three  more  for  the  youthful  singers  who  had 
favored  us. 

Chaplain  Woodworth  closed  the  exercises  of  the  day,  by 
recounting  briefly  the  experiences  of  the  regiment,  tenderly 
remembering  their  honored  dead,  and  reminding  the  sur 
vivors  that  consistency  required  in  returning  to  civil  life 
that  they  should  be  exemplar  citizens,  loyal  to  God  and  to 
humanity.  These  remarks  were  worthy  of  note,  but  unfor 
tunately  no  permanent  record  of  them  was  made,  save  as 
they  have  moulded  themselves  into  the  subsequent  lives  of 
his  hearers. 

The  regiment  remained  at  the  ' '  Soldiers'  Rest "  over 
night,  and  were  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service 
Tuesday,  the  29th  of  September,  with  payment  in  full  from 
Feb.  14,  18H4,  and  the  one  hundred  dollars  bounty  due 
each  enlisted  man.  Lieut.  George  D.  Ramsey,  ordnance 
officer  from  the  Watertown  Arsenal,  received  the  camp  and 
garrison  equipage,  on  inspecting  which  he  paid  the  high 
compliment  to  the  regiment  that  they  were  in  the  best  con 
dition  of  any  yet  returned. 


ANDERSON  VILLE.  377 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ANDEKSONVILLE. 

SIXTY-TWO  miles  south-west  from  Macon,  Ga.,  on  the 
Southwestern  Railroad,  in  Sumter  County,  was  situated  a 
little  hamlet  with  a  population  not  exceeding  twenty  in 
number,  known  as  Anderson.  Like  many  of  its  kind,  it 
was  in  the  midst  of  immense  forests  of  pine,  hemlock  and 
oak,  in  which  were  interspersed  large  and  productive  plan 
tations,  lying  at  considerable  distances  apart.  The  country 
is  rolling  and  hilly,  with  a  soil  of  reddish  clay,  indicative  of 
rich  agricultural  resources,  and  of  large  returns  for  labor 
bestowed.  The  vicinity  is  noted  for  its  numerous  streams 
and  springs  of  clear,  cold  water,  one,  only  twelve  miles  dis 
tant,  known  as  Magnolia  Spring,  discharging  sixty  gallons 
of  water  per  minute,  while  it  is  in  close  proximity  to  a 
stream  sufficient  and  suitable  for  laundry  and  bathing  pur 
poses.  These  features  are  noticed  because  they  present  the 
facilities  for  furnishing  those  supplies  for  which  our  men 
lacked  and  for  which  they  suffered  most  severely. 

After  viewing  many  places  more  eligible,  Anderson  was 
selected  by  Hovvell  Cobb,  for  reasons  unknown,  unless  its 
fitness  for  the  terrible  work  it  finally  accomplished.  When 
selected,  the  entire  ground  was  covered  with  a  dense  forest, 
which  was  used  in  constructing  the  stockade,  not  a  single 
tree  being  left  unfelled.  The  trees  sheltered  our  race, 

"  Ere  man  learned 

To  hew  the  shaft,  and  lay  the  architrave, 
And  spread  the  roof  above  them." 


378  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

A  considerate  man  suggested  to  Howell  Cobb  that  a  little 
shade  would  afford  some  protection  to  the  prisoners,  but 
received  the  significant  reply,  "That's  just  what  I  won't 
give  !  I'll  make  a  place  here  for  the  d — d  Yankees,  where 
they  will  rot  faster  than  they  can  be  sent." 

The  enclosure  was  situated  on  a  southerly  slope,  about 
sixteen  hundred  feet  from  the  railroad,  and  at  first  included 
only  twenty- two  acres,  but  about  July  1,  1864,  it  was  in 
creased  to  twenty-seven  acres.  It  was  longest  due  north 
and  south,  was  fifteen  hundred  and  forty  feet  long  by  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  wide,  and  was  surrounded  with  a 
stockade  of  hewn  logs  set  closely  together,  so  as  to  entirely 
obstruct  the  exterior  view.  It  was  a  double  stockade  ;  the 
inner  one  at  a  height  of  twenty  feet,  with  "  sentry  boxes" 
surmounting  it  thirty  yards  apart ;  and  an  outer  stockade 
one  hundred  twenty  feet  distant  from  the  inner,  twelve  feet 
high,  intended  to  render  escape  more  difficult,  and  to  aid 
in  defence  from  without.  Through  a  wide,  oozy,  slimy 
quagmire,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the 
southern  end,  a  sluggish  stream,  from  three  to  five  feet 
wide  and  as  many  inches  deep,  flowed  through  the  enclos 
ure  from  west  to  east.  This  stream,  tainted  with  decay 
ing  vegetation,  received  the  wash  and  sinks  from  several 
rebel  camps,  and  the  offal  from  an  immense  cook-house 
above,  and  yet  was  for  a  time  the  only  water  supply  fur 
nished  for  all  our  wants. 

Seventeen  feet  from  the  inner  stockade  was  a  line  of  poles, 
supported  by  crotched  stakes,  known  as  the  "dead  line," 
beyond  which  to  venture  or  extend  a  hand  was  certain  death. 
Deducting  the  laud  between  the  dead  line  and  stockade,  with 
that  occupied  by  the  slough,  there  was  an  average  space  for 
each  prisoner  of  about  thirty  square  feet.  A  grave  for  an 
adult  will  average  eighteen  square  feet. 

Within  such  circumscribed  area,  thirty-five  thousand  men, 
during  the  heat  of  summer,  were  compelled  to  perform  all 


LACK    OF   FUEL    AND    SHELTER.  379 

the  functions  of  life,  cooking,  washing,  defecation,  exercise 
and  sleep.  As  a  result  of  the  use  of  such  water,  and  of 
poor  and  ill-prepared  food,  chronic  complaints  rendered  the 
sinks  along  the  stream  of  no  use  to  those  any  distance  there 
from,  so  that  the  grounds  were  strewed  with  excrement  and 
the  swamp  with  faeces  and  liquid  filth.  Under  the  action  of 
the  sun  the  stench  became  so  great  that  the  inhabitants  even 
at  a  distance  could  not  endure  it,  and  sought  an  injunction 
from  the  courts  to  secure  a  mitigation  of  the  nuisance,  or  the 
removal  of  the  stockade. 

Though  the  singing  of  the  breezes  could  be  heard  in  the 
adjacent  forests,  no  regular  issue  of  fuel  was  made  with 
which  to  cook  such  food  as  was  furnished.  For  a  time  the 
stumps  of  the  original  forest  made  up  the  deficiency  ;  but 
these  were  soon  exhausted,  and  our  men  would  burrow  in 
the  ground  with  cups  and  spoons,  and  follow  each  little 
rootlet  far  into  the  earth  with  as  much  care  as  a  miner 
follows  his  vein  of  gold. 

No  friendly  shelter  greeted  the  unfortunate  captive  as 
the  creaking  gate  swung  back  for  his  admission,  but  an 
irregular  mass  of  booths,  made  from  tattered  blankets, 
whose  ragged  surface  seemed  to  invite,  rather  than  repel, 
the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun,  or  the  drenching  rains. 
Others  protected  themselves  by  burrowing  in  the  ground, 
forming  subterranean  houses  of  unique  construction,  but 
telling  forcibly  of  extreme  poverty  and  misery.  By  far  the 
larger  part  of  the  unfortunate  men,  however,  had  neither 
booths  nor  burrows,  but  wandered  by  day  in  the  scorching 
sun  or  falling  rain,  and  lay  down  to  rest  where  night  over 
took  them.  In  such  a  jostling  crowd  there  could  be  no 
order  or  regularity ;  hence  each  one  secured  the  most  favor 
able  place,  without  regard  to  streets  or  formation,  and  squat 
ter  sovereignty  was  the  recognized  law. 

At  first  no  rigid  search  of  prisoners  was  made,  but  soon 
after,  a  complete  system  of  robbery  was  adopted ;  first  by 


380  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  officers  in  charge,  who  took  from  our  men  all  of  their 
valuables,  and  then  turned  them  over  to  the  rebel  guard, 
who  stripped  them  at  will  of  hats,  coats,  pants,  and  shoes, 
unless  they  were  worse  than  their  own,  or  so  badly  worn 
as  to  be  unsalable.  As  a  result,  large  numbers  of  prisoners 
came  within  so  nearly  nude  that  the  remnants  of  clothing 
afforded  the  wearers  but  little  protection.  It  was  a  com 
mon  spectacle  to  see  a  "fresh  fish"  (as  a  new  arrival  was 
^called)  come  into  the  stockade  bare-headed,  bare-footed,  shirt- 
sleeved  and  perhaps  wearing  a  ragged  shirt  and  pair  of  pants 
which  the  guard  had  forced  him  to  take  in  exchange  for  his 

o  c* 

own.  With  destitution  growing  more  distressing  from  month 
to  month,  they  were  forced  to  wallow  in  the  filthinessof  this 
pen,  and  were  scantily  fed  from  the  garbage  and  offal  of  the 
rebel  stores. 

The  rations  consisted  of  four  ounces  of  meal  (corn  and 
cob),  two  spoonfuls  of  rice,  two  of  beans,  with  two  ounces 
of  bacon  per  day,  and  occasionally  a  teaspoonful  of  salt.  Had 
these  been  wholesome  and  nutritive,  they  would  still  have 
been  inadequate  to  sustain  the  vital  forces,  but  they  were 
frequently  so  offensive  as  to  be  past  use.  The  regular- 
United  States  ration  for  a  man  in  active  service  is  thirty-seven 
ounces  per  day,  and,  during  the  time  now  being  consid 
ered,  our  government  was  issuing  thirty-four  and  one-half 
ounces  per  day  to  rebel  prisoners.  Of  ordinary  food  our 
animal  economy  requires  thirty  ounces  to  sustain  unimpaired 
its  various  functions,  and,  in  its  concentrated  forms,  not  less 
than  seventeen  ounces  per  day.  Yet,  all  witnesses  agree,  that 
the  amount  issued  our  men  at  Andersonville,  was  less  than 
ten  ounces  per  day,  and  this  often  unfit  for  use. 

I  have  said  that  the  only  supply  of  water  furnished  was 
the  stream  through  the  swale,  but  this  was  in  part  remedied  by 
deep  wells  constructed  by  our  men,  one  being  estimated  not 
less  than  seventy  feet  deep.  This  was  dug  largely  with  cups 
and  spoons,  and  the  earth  drawn  up  by  ropes  made  from  the 


A   WONDERFUL   PROVIDENCE.  381 

clothes  of  the  dead.  During  the  latter  part  of  this  work  we 
were  favored  by  our  keepers  with  two  shovels,  a  rope,  and  a 
bucket,  but  were  obliged  to  return  them  every  night.  These 
wells,  however,  gave  a  limited  supply,  and  were  guarded 
with  zealous  care,  so  that  but  few  enjoyed  their  benefits.  Tues 
day,  the  9th  of  August,  1864,  an  awful  thunder-storm  visited 
us,  attended  with  a  heavy  fall  of  rain,  which,  gathering  in 
the  slough  between  the  two  hills,  undermined  the  stock 
ade —  both  above  and  below,  —  and  covered  the  swale  with 
a  swift  current  of  water.  The  enemy  were  obliged  to  turn 
out  at  double  quick  in  the  drenching  rain  to  guard  the 
breaches,  which  our  men,  who  were  alike  exposed,  enjoyed 
hugely.  When  the  storm  had  passed,  and  the  waters  had 
receded  to  the  banks  of  the  stream,  it  was  found  that  the 
swift  current  like  a  faithful  scavenger,  had  cleared  the  swamp 
of  all  its  filth,  and  that  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  just  over 
the  dead  line,  a  spring  of  clear,  cold  water  had  burst  forth, 
sufficient  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  entire  camp.  This 
spring  continued  to  flow  undiminished,  until  our  departure,  a 
constant  reminder  of  God's  miraculous  care  and  intervention. 
No  Moses  had  been  sent  to  smite  the  rock,  but  none  the  less 
had  the  Almighty  cleansed  this  Gehenna  by  floods  of  water, 
and  opened  the  fountains  of  the  earth  to  minister  to  the 
wants  of  his  suffering  creatures. 

The  malign  genius  of  this  Gehenna  was  Brig.  Gen'l  John 
H.  Winder,  Commissary  General  of  Prisoners,  a  Balti- 
morean  by  birth,  and  a  bosom  friend  of  Jefferson  Davis. 
Of  medium  height,  his  gray  locks  fell  from  beneath  his 
slouched  hat  nearly  to  his  shoulders.  The  expression  of  his 
stony  features  was  intensified  by  cold,  gray,  sunken  eyes, 
and  a  rigid  mouth  with  corners  well  drawn  down  ;  such  a  vis 
age  as  marks  one  who  is  the  coward  on  the  field,  but  who 
can  delight  in  torturing  a  helpless  captive.  Winder's  barbar 
ities  at  Richmond  had  outraged  the  feelings  of  the  rebel  secre 
tary  of  war,  who  demanded  his  dismissal,  but  being  a  bosom 


382  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

friend  of  Davis,  during  the  month  of  May,  1864,  he  was 
assigned  to  this  distant  post,  where  his  ferocious  nature 
could  have  unfettered  license.  It  was  Winder,  beholding  the 

7  O 

three  thousand  and  eighty-one  graves  filled  during  the  month 
of  August,  who  boastingly  said,  "  I  am  doing  more  for  the 
Confederacy  than  twenty  regiments  !  "  His  terrible  work  was 
ably  forwarded  by  subordinates  in  sympathy  with  him,  but 
by  none  more  effectually  than  by  Henry  Wirz,  Captain  C.  S. 
A.  To  him  was  assigned  the  infernal  plot  by  which  in  a  few 
short  months  the  adjacent  cemetery  was  to  become  the  resting 
place  of  thirteen  thousand  Union  soldiers,  many  of  them 
fathers,  husbands,  brothers  or  friends  of  my  readers.  This 
was  not  a  triumph  over  wounded  and  enfeebled  men,  but 
over  the  bone  and  sinew  of  our  army  who  had  dared  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  the  place  of  their  choice,  and  had  bearded 
them  at  the  mouth  of  their  own  cannon. 

The  fiendish  heart  of  Gen'l  Winder  gloated  over  the  mul 
tiplying  wrecks  within,  and  sustained  Wirz  in  any  act,  how 
ever  atrocious.  Their  hands  recklessly  laid  low  many,  who, 
imbeciled  in  mind,  thought  by  their  plaintive  pleadings,  to 
reach  their  hearts  and  secure  a  mitigation  of  their  sufferings. 

O  O 

A  Union  soldier,  familiarly  known  as  "  Chickamauga,"  from 
having  lost  a  limb  in  that  battle,  in  semi-idiocy  plead 
with  Wirz  to  relieve  him  from  his  torture,  saying,  "  I  would 
rather  die  than  bear  it  longer !  "  to  which  he  responded  by 
ordering  the  guard  to  "  shoot  the  d — d  Yankee,"  and  in  less 
time  than  required  to  tell  it,  his  soul  was  winging  its  up 
ward  flight.  Another  prisoner  lay  helpless  on  the  ground 
and  was  ordered  to  fall  in  with  his  detachment,  but  being: 

O 

too  weak  to  obey,  the  heartless  villain  jumped  with  both 
feet  on  his  prostrate  form,  and  a  crimson  tide  from  ears, 
nose,  and  mouth,  with  a  few  gasps,  told  of  another  struggle 
ended. 

These  instances,  not  excessive  in  brutality  over  multitudes 
of  others,  must  have  prepared  the  minds  of  the  reader  to 


LIBBY    PRISON,    AND    THE    SEARCH.  383 

receive  with  full  credence  the  following  experiences  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  as  prisoners  of  war.  The 
record  is  made  with  no  desire  to  rekindle  animosities  against 
the  perpetrators,  nor  to  awaken  anew  the  sorrow  of  years  in 
our  own  homes,  but  with  a  faithful  desire  to  place  in  history 
the  memory  of  loyal,  worthy  sons  of  New  England,  who 
thought  no  sacrifice  too  great  to  perpetuate  the  integrity  of 
our  Union,  and  to  make  us  all  more  grateful  for  the  heritage 
their  sacrifice  has  secured  for  us.  They  were  offered  free 
dom  if  they  would  forswear  their  government,  but  they 
chose  rather  to  suffer  a  martyr's  death,  than  live  a  tainted 
life. 

The  record  left  our  captured  men  within  the  rebel  gaol  at 
Richmond,  at  which  place  they  arrived  at  nine  A.M.,  May  16, 
1864.  The  building  in  which  they  were  confined  was  the 
three-storied  brick  building  known  as  Libby  Prison.  At 
this  time  most  of  the  former  prisoners  had  been  hurried  off 
to  Andersonville,  from  fear  incident  to  Gen'l  Grant's  forward 
movement,  and  the  building  had  been  thoroughly  renovated. 
The  officers  were  placed  on  the  floor  above  the  men,  and 
being  left  to  themselves  a  short  time,  instituted  measures  to 
ascertain  the  number  captured.  Corp.  Alvin  A.  Gage  of 
Company  I  made  a  list  of  our  men,  and  succeeded  in  get 
ting  a  copy  of  it,  through  a  crack  in  the  floor,  to  Lieut.  J. 
L.  Skinner,  by  which  it  was  ascertained  there  were  nine  offi 
cers  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  men  present. 

Dick  Turner  and  his  light-fingered  satellites  soon  appeared, 
their  eyes  gloating  over  the  new  victims,  wrhich  the  "gods 
of  war  "  had  delivered  into  their  power.  The  statement  was 
made  that  they  were  about  to  search  us,  and  that  if  any 
had  money,  watches,  or  valuables  of  any  kind,  and  would 
surrender  them  without  search,  they  would  take  their  names, 
with  the  amount  or  articles  surrendered,  and  when  exchanged, 
would  return  all  to  them ;  but  if  they  were  obliged  to  search 
for  them,  everything  found  would  be  confiscated.  But  few 


384  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

placed  confidence  in  this  statement.  The  men  were  ordered 
to  strip,  and  a  rope  was  stretched  across  the  room  to  separate 
the  fleecer  and  his  victim  from  the  prisoners.  One  by  one 
they  were  examined,  and  as  fast  as  the  space  was  filled  at  the 
rear,  the  line  was  moved,  until  all  had  passed  the  ordeal. 

The  search  being  in  full  sight  of  the  captives,  —  the  vil- 
lany  and  wilful  malice  of  these  monster  "home  guards" 
was  discovered.  They  confiscated  equipments,  canteens, 
haversacks  and  rubber  blankets,  leaving  only  woollen  blank 
ets  (to  such  as  had  them),  and  these  simply  because  they 
were  not  allowed  to  use  anything  with  the  hated  letters  "  U. 
S."  upon  it.  This,  however,  did  not  surprise  us,  "  but  when 
it  became  evident  that  the  robbery  included,  beside  money 
and  other  valuables,  the  photographs  of  our  friends  at  home, 
and  that  a  smile  of  villanous  satisfaction  greeted  their  dis 
covery,  while  all  pleadings  to  retain  them  were  vain,  our 
hearts  sank,  and  a  new  sense  of  the  satanic  spirit  of  our  foe 
overwhelmed  us." — (C.  C.  IIosford.~)  The  search  pro 
gressed  with  varied  success,  each  of  our  men  at  his  wits' 
end  to  contrive  ways  to  save  their  treasures.  The  amount 
of  money  obtained  was  very  small,  the  largest  sum  being 
from  Col.  Lee,  of  less  than  one  hundred  dollars.  Edgar  C. 
Brewster,  of  Company  A,  had  about  eighty  dollars  in  green 
backs  with  him,  all  of  which  he  saved  by  dividing  it  amongst 
his  company,  some  placing  it  in  their  mouths,  while  others 
uncapped  their  blouse  buttons  and  put  the  money  within. 

When  any  article  of  an  officer  was  coveted,  extravagant 
offers  in  Confederate  money  were  made,  but  the  article  was 
always  for  a  personal  friend,  and  "if  it  fitted,  they  would 
return  the  money,  otherwise  the  goods."  A  few  were 
caught  in  this  way,  one  of  our  officers  being  offered  three 
hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  and  a  pair  of  partly  worn 
army  shoes  for  his  boots.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  it  was  an 
old  trick  with  them,  and  neither  was  the  money  paid  or 
the  boots  returned.  When  the  search  was  completed  the 


REFLECTIONS    OF   A    PRISONER.  385 

men  were  moved  across  the  street  to  the  Pemberton  build 
ing.  This  structure  fully  justified  all  that  had  been  said  of 
its  filthiness.  The  seams  of  the  walls  and  floors  swarmed 
with  vermin,  against  which  it  was  as  useless  to  contend  as 
to  beat  the  air. 

The  sudden  relaxation  from  active  conflict,  the  humilia 
tion  of  defeat,  and  vain  longings  for  one  more  grasp  of 
the  rifle  to  retrieve  one's  honor,  are  feelings  which  experi 
ence  can  alone  portray.  The  loved  ones  at  home :  God 
have  mercy  on  them,  when 

"  Their  hearts  are  wrung  by  the  battle's  refrain  ;  " 

when  dread  uncertainty  shall  pale  the  cheek  of  mother,  wife, 
lover  or  sister ;  when  the  dimmed  eye  of  father  shall  trace 
in  the  list  of  "  missing,"  my  name  ;  when  the  home  circle 
shall  realize  for  me  all  the  ills  which  war  entails,  and  each 
day  go  through  for  me  the  last  sad  rites  of  earth,  not  know 
ing  my  lot.  A  rigorous  foe  withholds  all  communication, 
and  as  for  affording  our  friends  relief,  the  grave  could  not 
enforce  a  more  cruel  silence.  We  know  not  what  is  before 
us,  but  turn  our  eyes  northward  and  longingly  inquire, 

"  Land  of  my  birth,  shall  I  greet  thee  again  ?  " 

With  such  thoughts  our  hearts  rebelled  against  our  lot  and 
against  the  fate  which  left  us  passive  spectators  of  our 
country's  necessities. 

As  already  stated,  we  reached  Richmond,  Va.,  at  nine 
A.M.,  May  16th,  but  it  was  the  afternoon  of  the  17th  before 
any  attention  was  paid  to  our  wants,  at  which  time  we  were 
served  with  a  genuine  ''Argonaut  bean  soup"  and  a  small 
piece  of  corn  bread,  but  each  in  such  quantity  as  to  mock 
the  gnawings  of  hunger,  which  by  this  time  were  becoming 
unendurable.  We  soon  found  that  any  attention  to  our 
wants  was  to  be  a  question  of  convenience,  rather  than  of 
necessity.  Says  Charles  Weed,  of  Company  E,  who  was 


386  TWENTY- SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

wounded  when  captured,  "I  have  seen  our  men  suffering 
for  months  from  painful  wounds,  but  their  hunger  was  so 
intense  as  to  drown  all  other  sufferings.  For  eighty  days  I 
lay  without  change  of  lint  on  my  wounds,  shirt  on  my  per 
son,  or  clothes  on  the  cot,  with  the  heat  much  of  the  time 
from  ninety  to  one  hundred  and  ten  degrees  in  the  shade, 
but  my  greatest  suffering  was  from  incessant  hunger." 

After  we  had  been  a  week  at  Richmond,  the  reverbera 
tions  from  the  guns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  greeted 
our  ears  ;  sounds  pleasant  to  us,  but  reminding  the  city  of  its 
precarious  condition,  and  the  authorities  of  the  fact  that  the 
Union  army  had  at  last  an  invincible  general.  At  two 
o'clock,  the  morning  of  May  23d,  we  were  marched  across 
the  James  River  to  Manchester,  and  boarded  a  freight  train 
for  removal  south.  The  cars  were  filled  to  their  utmost 
capacity,  each  containing  about  seventy-five  men  and  four 
guards,  the  latter  from  the  Third  Virginia  Militia.  We 
arrived  that  night  at  Danville,  where  we  remained  until  the 
25th  inst.,  awaiting  transportation.  Our  course  south  lay 
through  Greensboro,  Salisbury,  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  and 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  at  the  last  of  which  places,  the  train  was 
held  an  hour  to  gratify  the  women's  curiosity  to  see  a  "  live 
Yankee."  From.  Columbia  we  reached  Branchville,  and  took 
the  Charleston  and  Augusta  road  for  the  latter  place.  At 
Augusta,  Ga.,  we  received  humane  treatment,  and  were 
permitted  to  occupy  a  cotton-pen  during  the  night,  resum 
ing  our  journey  the  following  day.  Such  officers  as  were 
with  us,  were  left  at  Macon  Sunday,  May  29th,  while  the  en 
listed  men  were  forwarded  over  the  Southwestern  road  to 
Anderson ville,  where  they  arrived  at  an  early  hour  May  30, 
1864. 

We  had  been  a  full  week  en  route,  with  a  mere  pittance  of 
food,  over  roads  so  rough,  that  the  jolting  of  the  train  was 
painful  in  the  extreme.  Our  crowded  condition  rendered 
the  heat  oppressive,  and  prevented  lying  down  for  rest  or 


ARRIVAL   AT    ANDERSONVILLE.  387 

sleep.  When  it  became  known  we  were  to  pass  through 
North  Carolina  —  our  old  camping-ground  —  endless  plans 
of  escape  were  made,  even  to  the  seizing  of  the  train,  but 
the  difficulty  of  united  action,  and  the  fact  that  our  route 
was  so  far  inland,  prevented  any  attempt.  The  route  for 
the  most  part  lay  through  immense  forests,  in  the  midst  of 
which,  at  short  intervals,  the  train  stopped  for  wood  and 
water.  The  night  we  passed  through  Salisbury,  a  portion 
of  the  men  were  allowed  to  lie  on  the  top  of  the  car.  While 
stopping  for  water,  Lewis  A.  Drury  of  Company  C,  made 
his  escape,  but  was  recaptured  soon  after,  and  sent  to  An- 
dersonville.  After  leaving  Augusta,  Ga.,  Sergt.  Bartholo 
mew  O'Connell,  Corp.  J.  W.  Brizzee  and  Private  George  W. 
Taylor,  all  of  Company  C,  succeeded  in  cutting  a  hole 
through  the  floor  of  the- car,  and,  the  night  of  the  29th  of  May, 
under  cover  of  darkness,  effected  their  escape,  the  account 
of  which  will  be  found  farther  on. 

On  arriving  at  Anderson ville,  we  formed  in  line  near  the 
north  gate,  on  an  elevation  overlooking  the  stockade.  At 
this  time  it  contained  about  fifteen  thousand  prisoners,  the 
sickening  sight  of  whose  destitution  lay  fully  in  view. 
Here  we  were  again  thoroughly  searched,  but  with  unsatis 
factory  results  to  the  enemy.  We  were  then  designated  as 
"  Detachment  69,"  and  enough  men  from  other  organizations 
were  added  to  it  to  complete  the  required  number.  A  de 
tachment  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  men,  over 
which  a  rebel  sergeant  was  placed,  whose  chief  duty  was  to 
call  the  roll  each  day.  This  detachment  was  divided  into 
three  squads  of  ninety  men  each  ;  and  each  squad  into  three 
"  messes"  of  thirty  men  ;  these  sub-organizations  choosing 
their  own  commissaries  to  receive  and  distribute  the  rations 
issued.  Later  in  the  season,  the  number  of  deaths  so  re 
duced  the  detachments,  that  many  were  consolidated,  and 
the  smaller  numeral  retained  for  its  name  ;  while  at  other 
times  new  prisoners  were  included  to  fill  up  the  number. 


388  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

As  a  fact,  the  Twenty-Seventh,  during  its  experience  here, 
were  parts  of  several  different  detachments,  but  for  the  pur 
pose  of  this  history,  they  will  be  known  as  "  Detachment 
No.  69." 

The  work  of  search  and  organization  being  completed,  the 
north  gate  creaked  heavily  back  on  its  hinges,  and  two  by 
two  we  marched  into  this  abode  of  death.  Crowds  were 
gathered  beyond  the  dead-line,  curious  who  the  new  arrivals 
(fresh  fish  !)  might  be,  and  anxious  to  know  of  the  fortunes  of 
our  arms.  Their  unkempt  hair,  glaring  eyes,  their  sharp 
ened  visages  blackened  by  pitch-pine  smoke,  and  their  tat 
tered,  filthy  garments,  rendered  them  embodiments  of  de 
spair,  and  horrid  spectres  of  suffering  and  want.  A  sicken 
ing  realization  of  what  was  in  store  for  us,  was  read  in  the 
features  of  our  unfortunate  comrades,  but  the  half  could  not 
be  conceived,  and 

"  The  half  has  never  been  told. " 

Passing  the  crowded  grounds  to  the  easterly  side,  and 
crossing  the  quagmire  on  a  path  near  the  dead-line,  we 
halted  just  across  the  border  of  the  marsh,  and  with  spoons, 
cups  and  such  conveniences  as  were  with  us,  commenced 
throwing  dirt  into  the  slimy  depths,  to  construct  sufficient 
grounds  on  which  to  bivouac.  We  at  length  succeeded, 
though  the  surface  was  so  elastic  that  it  yielded  to  our 
weight,  and  through  the  cracks  oozed  the  filthy  slime  which 
showed  what  the  foundation  was.  The  crowded  condition 
of  the  stockade  left  this  as  our  only  alternative,  but  as  the 
sequel  shows,  it  was  a  terrible  one,  and  with  the  malaria, 
stench  and  miserable  food,  became  the  subsequent  cause  of 
disease  and  death. 

"  For  twenty-one  days  following,  the  clouds  gathered  and  burst 
over  the  ill-fated  camp,  the  men  wet  through  by  day  and  night, 
with  hardly  a  ray  of  sunshine  or  starlight,  during  the  entire 
time." —  (J.  E.  Perry,  Company  /.) 


SURGEON'S  CALL  —  THE  HOSPITAL.  389 

The  camp  was  one  vast  slush  of  mud,  and  our  position  (bad 
enough  at  the  best),  was  available  only  as  we  stood  half-way 
to  our  knees  in  mud,  while  our  clothes  were  besmeared  from 
head  to  foot  with  filth.  The  constant  use  of  corn  and  cob 
meal  in  a  raw  state,  added  to  our  exposure,  soon  told  upon 
our  men,  and  by  the  20th  of  June  the  death  record  of  "the 
Twenty-Seventh  at  Andersonville  was  commenced  by  the 
decease  of  Mahlon  M.  Merritt  of  Company  C,  while  large 
numbers  were  suffering  from  chronic  diarrhoea. 

The  "Surgeon's  call  "was  held  between  the  stockades, 
just  outside  the  "  South  gate,"  to  which  point  our  sick 
would  crawl,  or,  if  unable  to  do  so,  were  carried  by  their 
comrades.  The  bearers  immediately  returned  into  the  stock 
ade,  leaving  the  patients'  names  affixed  to  their  clothing  for 
recognition,  when  they  were  beyond  consciousness.  Here 
the  sick  would  remain  for  hours  awaiting  the  surgeon,  and, 
if  not  received  into  the  hospital,  were  sent  back  into  the 
stockade,  or  when  necessary,  word  was  sent  to  the  squad 
to  assist  them  back.  The  hospital  was  situated  outside  and 
at  the  south-easterly  corner  of  the  stockade.  It  consisted 
of  a  line  of  large  tents  which  had  been  "condemned  for 
service,"  and  which  in  reality  were  simply  canvas  spreads, 
without  sides  to  exclude  the  dampness  of  night  or  the  driving 
storms  and  winds. 

The  entire  hospital  was  a  disgrace  to  humanity,  and  was 
such  only  by  name,  for  no  signs  of  cot  or  blankets,  or  even 
straw,  graced  the  place,  but  long  winrows  of  men  in  poverty 
and  suffering  found  their  bed  upon  the  earth.  There,  in 
furrows  scooped  out  by  their  own  hands,  lay  hundreds  of 
men  covered  almost  to  the  neck  with  a  mantle  of  earth,  to 
protect  themselves  from  the  swarming  pest  of  flies  and  ver 
min  ;  and  for  such  comfort  as  its  cooling  touch  gave  their 
fevered  forms.  These  facilities,  even,  were  inadequate  to 
accommodate  the  enormous  increase  of  patients,  and  the 
rule  was  early  adopted  to  receive  no  more  into  the  hospital, 


390          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

than  would  replace  the  deaths  of  the  previous  twenty-four 
hours.  On  this  account  the  deaths  within  the  stockade 
began  to  multiply,  so  that,  during  the  months  of  August 
and  September,  these  exceeded  those  within  the  hospital 
by  two  hundred  and  seventy-one  ;  there  being  three  thou 
sand  and  fifteen  deaths  in  the  stockade  and  twenty-seven 
hundred  and  forty-four  in  the  hospital. 

The  record  shows  that  seventeen  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  seventy-three  of  our  men  *  were  admitted  to  this  hos 
pital,  and  that  eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  of  that  number  died,  a  mortality  of  nearly  forty-nine 
per  cent.  To  judge  of  the  reasonableness  of  such  a  record, 
contrast  the  treatment  of  two  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand 
cases  of  the  same  diseases  by  United  States  surgeons  in  our 
camps  and  hospitals,  in  which  the  percentage  of  deaths  was 
less  than  five  per  cent.  Two  million  five  hundred  and 
seventy  thousand  cases  of  wounds  and  disease  were  treated 
in  our  hospitals  during  the  years  of  1862  and  1863,  of  which 
number  only  two  and  one-half  per  cent,  were  fatal.  Of 
forty-two  thousand  four  hundred  able-bodied  men  incar 
cerated  in  this  Gehenna,  twelve  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  adjoining.  These 
were  the  flower  of  our  army  captured  at  the  extreme  front, 
and  from  them  the  grim  messenger  reaped  the  rich  harvest 
of  thirty  and  one-half  per  cent. 

"  Deliverer ! 

God  anointed  thee  to  free  the  oppressed. 
Nor  dost  thou  interpose, 
Only  to  lay  the  sufferer  asleep, 
Where  he  who  made  him  wretched,  troubles  not 
His  rest :  thou  dost  strike  down  his  tyrant  too, 
And  avenge  the  wrong  of  him,  who  knows 
No  other  friend." 

The  medical  staff  was  entirely  inadequate  to  the  emer 
gency,  and  were  prohibited  from  adapting  remedies  to  par- 

*  This  has  no  reference  to  the  sick  and  to  deaths  in  the  stockade. 


BURIAL    OF    THE    DEAD. 

ticular  constitutions,  but  were  required  to  prescribe  for  each 
disease  a  remedy  officially  designated  by  a  number,  furnished 
by  the  "medical  purveyor."  Equipped  with  a  knowledge 
of  the  prevailing  diseases,  and  an  official  list  of  remedies, 
the  veriest  quack  could  have  been  as  successful  as  the  most 
skilled  physician.  To  the  credit  of  the  profession,  be  it 
said,  many  physicians  refused  to  be  partners  in  this  awful 
crime,  and  withdrew  from  the  service.  The  carnival  of 
death  was  thus  unimpeded  by  medical  skill,  and  in  one  day 
(the  23d  of  August)  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  of  our 
comrades  at  this  pen  passed  to  ' '  where  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest,"  an  average  of  one  death 
every  eleven  minutes  for  the  entire  twenty-four  hours. 

At  a  stated  time  each  day,  the  detachments  brought  their 
dead  to  the  dead-line  near  the  gate,  where  the  bodies  were 
piled  upon  mule-carts  like  cordwood,  and  borne  away  to  the 
cemetery.  Details  from  the  prisoners  were  paroled  and  sent 
to  the  cemetery  for  the  burial  of  the  dead,  for  which  labor 
they  were  allowed  double  rations  that  day.  At  the  cemetery 
long  trenches  were  dug,  within  which  the  bodies  were  laid 
as  close  as  possible,  and,  after  being  strewn  with  quicklime, 
were  hastily  buried.  At  the  head  of  each  body  was  placed 
a  stake,  with  a  number  scratched  upon  it  by  a  metallic  point. 
One  of  our  prisoners  made  a  private  record  of  these  num 
bers,  with  the  names  of  the  deceased  opposite  them,  by  which 
timely  act,  it  has  been  possible  to  recognize  the  graves  of 
twelve  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  Union  prisoners 
in  Andersonville  cemetery,  leaving  only  five  hundred  and 
seven  graves  at  that  place  with  the  sad  inscription, — 

UNKNO  WN 
UNITED   STATES    SOLDIER. 

1864. 

How  touching  and  fitting  this  act  of  our  government  in 
claiming  these  unknown  dead,  and  in  lieu  of  their  own 


392  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

name,  to  christen  them  with  its  own  great  name  and  most 
honorable  service.  Many  of  the  bodies  were  sent  from  the 
stockade  nude,  for  tattered  garbs  could  be  of  no  farther  use 
to  them,  but,  though  faded  and  torn,  the  clothes  might  give 
the  living  a  little  stronger  hold  on  life,  or  they  might  relieve 
the  suffering  and  exposure  of  those  but  a  step  removed  from 
the  gate  of  death. 

On  the  first  day  of  July  the  addition  to  the  stockade  had 
been  completed,  and  our  "  Detachment  69  "  was  the  first  to 
enter  it.  We  selected  a  position  at  the  north  end,  close  to 
the  dead-line,  and  central  on  the  width.  Here  our  condition 
was  very  much  improved,  and  with  such  awning  as  could  be 
made  from  the  few  blankets  and  spreads  we  had,  we  were 
as  well  situated  as  any  upon  the  grounds.  With  cups  and 
spoons,  and  a  couple  of  shovels  loaned  by  the  Confederates, 
we  dug  a  well  seventy  feet  deep,  and  were  repaid  by  a  good 
supply  of  water  which  proved  of  inestimable  value  to  us. 
During  the  night  of  July  2d,  the  prisoners  tore  down  the 
logs  which  had  separated  the  addition  from  the  old  stock 
ade,  —  and  which  were  now  useless,  —  so  that  by  the  next 
morning  little  of  it  remained  which  had  not  been  appropriated 
for  fuel.  This  so  enraged  Capt.  Wirz  (familiarly  known  as  the 
"  old  Dutchman  "),  that  he  ordered  that  no  rations  be  issued 
for  that  day.  We  were  already  so  emaciated  by  want  of 
sufficient  food,  that  our  clothes  were  badly  disproportioned 
to  us ;  but  how  we  could  stand  it  with  no  food  at  all  was 
a  question  we  disliked  to  contemplate.  The  next  morning 
ushered  in  the  "glorious  Fourth,"  and  no  misfortune  could 
so  far  damp  the  spirits  of  our  men  as  to  prevent  the  recogni 
tion  and  proper  observance  of  our  country's  natal  day.  Long 
before  the  sun  had  cast  his  beams  over  the  pen,  the  camp 
was  resounding  with  cheers  and  patriotic  songs  from  tens  of 
thousands  of  voices,  the  inspiration  of  which  was,  an  uncon 
scious,  yet  consecrated  patriotism,  which  endured  ignominy, 
sufferings,  and  death,  rather  than  tarnish  their  loyalty  and 


NEARLY  FOUR  DAYS'  FAST.  393 

national  pride.  For  these  exhibitions  of  patriotism  Capt. 
Wirz  retaliated  by  orders  that  no  issue  of  rations  would  be 
made  that  day.  Hungry  and  starving  though  we  were,  noth 
ing  could  restrain  the  service  of  song,  which  whiled  the 
hours  away,  though  the  "  picnic  "  and  the  "  orations  "  were 
necessarily  omitted.  "  About  noon  the  5th,  rations  were 
issued  to  the  south  side  in  a  raw  state,  but  it  was  nearly  dark 
the  night  of  the  6th,  before  they  completed  the  issue  upon  the 
north  side.  Amongst  the  last  of  those  to  receive  food  was 
*  Detachment  69.'  No  rations  had  been  issued  us  since  eleven 
o'clock.,  July  2d,  and  those  were  only  intended  for  that 
day." — (C.  O.  Hosford,  Company  A..)  We  cannot  depict 
the  famishing  sufferings  of  men  for  four  days  deprived  of 
food  ;  suffice  to  say,  that  though  issued  to  the  men  raw,  they 
rushed  to  the  water,  wet  their  meal,  and  ate  it  down  unsea 
soned  and  uncooked. 

The  daily  routine  was  now  and  then  broken  by  rumors  of 
exchange,  all  of  which  were  falsely  circulated,  and  the  dis 
appointment  following  was  a  fruitful  cause  of  dementia  and 
death.  Manhood  could  not  endure  all  this  without  protest 
or  attempts  at  escape.  At  long  intervals,  squads  were  per 
mitted  to  go  outside  for  fuel,  which  they  gathered  from  the 
dead  limbs  and  debris  of  the  woods,  during  which,  frequent, 
but  generally,  futile  attempts  at  escape  were  made.  The 
more  common  resort  was  by  tunnelling,  but  when  this 
was  suspected,  all  rations  were  suspended,  until  some  starv 
ing  prisoner  hoping  to  better  his  condition,  would  reveal  its 
location. 

During  July,  some  of  Detachment  69  had  succeeded  in 
running  a  tunnel  fifty  feet  beyond  the  stockade,  and  were 
intending  to  effect  escape  the  night  of  July  28th,  if  favora 
ble.  During  that  day  one  of  the  Eighth  Connecticut  in  his 
anxiety,  had  gone  into  the  tunnel  to  be  sure  all  Avas  right, 
when  suddenly  the  earth  caved  behind  him,  leaving  him  the 
alternatives  of  either  breaking  the  ground  and  attempting 


394          TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

escape,  or  else  to  remain  and  suffocate.  In  choosing  the 
former  he  succeeded  in  getting  to  the  woods,  but  within  an 
hour  was  returned  to  camp.  The  quartermaster  was  soon 
around  with  his  squad  of  negroes,  and,  while  they  filled  our 
tunnel,  he  tauntingly  remarked,  "  You  have  done  right 
smart,  boys  ;  this  is  the  best  yet !  but  it  must  have  been 
right  tough  business  with  cups  and  spoons.  Next  time  come 
to  me  and  I  will  loan  you  a  shovel  and  pick.  I'd  keep  on  ; 
it  will  keep  you  from  rotting  to  dig  in  the  dirt,  but  we  sha'n't 
let  you  get  out  all  the  same." 

July  30th,  Corp.  Perry  of  Company  I,  wrote,  "We  have 
lost  two  days'  rations  this  week  from  the  enemy's  suspicions  ; 
we  are  being  starved,  dying,  will  soon  be  dead."  Why  did 
not  the  mighty  energy  of  despair  nerve  the  whole  camp  to 
organized  revolt?  There  were  those  who  lacked  neither 
energy  or  courage,  but  the  enemy  understood  too  well  the 
axiom,  "all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  life,"  and 
hence  adopted  a  regime  which  drew  the  line  so  close  between 
life  and  death,  that  some  poor  starving  one  was  sure  "to 
cave  "  and  reveal  the  whole  plan  before  it  could  be  consum 
mated.  A  comprehensive  plan  to  seize  the  camp  and  guards 
was  thus  defeated  by  one  of  its  trusted  leaders.  The  stock 
ade  had  been  undermined,  and  could  have  been  torn  down  at 
several  points  in  a  few  moments,  but,  for  a  morsel  of  corn 
bread,  the  whole  plan  was  exposed.  If  by  any  means  a  man 
escaped,  he  was  sure  to  be  recaptured  and  returned  by  the 
bloodhounds  which  made  daily  circuit  of  the  camp,  unless 
the  work  of  capture  was  so  thoroughly  done  as  to  render 
their  return  unessential. 

To  maintain  a  show  of  clothing  often  required  consider 
able  ingenuity.  Says  one  of  Company  A,  "  I  kept  cutting 
off  the  legs  of  my  pants  to  mend  the  seat,  until  all  that  was 
left  was  the  seat."  Another  :  "To  economize,  I  would  wear 
my  pants  a  short  time,  and  then  substitute  my  drawers  for 
pants.  As  a  last  resort,  I  used  the  one  to  mend  the  other, 


TWO    SIDES    OF    SUCH   LIFE.  395 

until  it  was  hard  to  tell  whether  they  were  pants  or  drawers." 
As  a  rule,  all  one  had  was  on  his  person,  and  in  time  these 
became  so  ragged  that  it  was  hard  to  tell  where  the  clothes 
began  or  the  holes  ended. 

It  is  not  surprising  that,  under  such  experiences,  much 
depravity  was  developed.  An  organized  gang  of  robbers 
was  discovered,  and  many  cases  of  personal  violence  and 
murder  reported.  This  resulted  in  the  organization  of  a 
vigilance  committee,  by  whom  the  guilty  parties  were  appre 
hended.  By  permission  of  Capt.  Wirz,  these  were  tried 
and  condemned  "to  be  hung  till  dead,"  by  a  court  consti 
tuted  with  judge,  counsel  and  jury  chosen  from  among  the 
prisoners.  The  sentence  was  executed  the  afternoon  of 
July  llth,  and  produced  a  salutary  effect.  Later,  during 
the  progress  of  exchange,  many  were  deprived  of  their  only 
chance  for  life, — when  too  feeble  to  respond  for  exchange, — 
by  others  responding  to  their  names  and  claiming  to  be  the 
persons  intended.  This  was  the  trick  of  the  professional 
"  bounty  jumper,"  who  eagerly  seized  such  opportunities, 
and  was  sure  to  succeed,  unless  through  the  persistent 
watchfulness  of  the  friends  of  the  sick.  Many  died  after 
their  names  were  upon  the  exchange  roll,  but  these  were 
often  unreported,  so  that  others  might  respond  and  secure 
exchange  in  their  place. 

There  were  those  who  remembered  their  higher  oblisra- 

D  O 

tions,  and,  strangely  though  it  seemed,  daily  offered  their 
supplications  to  God.  Strangely,  because  it  seemed  as 
though  we  had  already  reached  the  world  of  despair. 
There  were  meetings  for  prayer  where  each  sought  to 
strengthen  and  encourage  the  other,  and  to  confirm  one 
another's  faith  in  the  promise  that  "all  things  shall  work 
together  for  good."  No  clearer  record  of  the  fatal  effects  of 
the  treatment  endured  by  us,  nor  more  unanswerable  indict 
ment  against  the  enemy  can  be  made,  than  is  found  in  the 
annexed  statement,  showing  the  deaths  from  month  to 


396  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


month,  with    the    aggregate   loss  of  each  company  and  of 
the  regiment  in  captivity. 

DEATHS  FROM  OUR  REGIMENT  IN  REBEL  PRISONS. 


MONTH. 

A 

it 

C 

l» 

E 

F 

o 

it 

I 

K 

Total. 

May,  1864  

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

2 

- 

1 

- 

- 

5 

June,      

1 

1 

1 

3 

July  

4 

5 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5 

_ 

_ 

16 

August  

1 

5 

5 

2 

- 

- 

3 

- 

7 

- 

23 

September,     .... 

5 

1 

3 

- 

- 

- 

1 

2 

4 

1 

17 

October,         .... 

2 

- 

1 

1 

- 

- 

2 

2 

10 

5 

23 

November,     .... 

3 

1 

- 

- 

1 

- 

1 

2 

1 

- 

9 

December  

2 

- 

1 

- 

2 

- 

- 

1 

2 

- 

8 

January,  1865, 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

3 

- 

3 

- 

8 

February,      .... 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

- 

2 

March,   

1 

- 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

1 

1 

2 

4. 

Unknown  

3 

5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

8 

Total  

21 

15 

19 

3 

6 

5 

10 

14 

29 

6 

128 

Perhaps  it  should  be  said  in  explanation,  that  the  decrease 
of  deaths  during  September  may  be  accounted  for  by  the 
sickness  and  absence  at  Macon  of  Wirz,  the  last  of  August 
and  early  September,  during  which  time  our  rations  were 
increased  in  quantity  and  quality,  and  also  that  the  removal 
for  "supposed  exchange"  inspired  us  with  new  courage  and 
fortitude  to  endure  our  misfortunes.  The  removal  to  Millen 
and  other  prisons,  of  men  expecting  exchange,  was  a  terrible 
disappointment,  and  renewed  with  us  in  October  the  fatalities 
of  August. 

Of  the  two  hundred  thirty- eight  .of  our  men  confined  at 
Richmond,  three  escaped  on  their  way  South,  leaving  two 


ORDERED  AWAY RAILROAD  ACCIDENT.         397 

hundred  thirty-five  admitted  to  Andersonville.  Of  those 
included  in  this  table,  eight  died  from  wounds  which  might 
have  been  fatal  in  our  hospitals,  leaving  an  aggregate  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  deaths,  or  a  little  more  than  fifty-one 
per  cent,  of  the  number  incarcerated.  These  were  not,  we 
repeat,  effeminate  or  crippled  men,  but  the  bone  and  sinew 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  and  of  New  England,  who  in  the 
day  of  battle  were, 

"  Where  duty  called  or  danger," 

every  inch  men  and  heroes. 

September  2d  Gen'l  Sherman's  victorious  army  entered 
Atlanta,  one  hundred  and  ten  miles  distant,  resulting  in 
the  hasty  removal  of  the  Andersonville  prisoners.  Fears  of 
an  attempt  at  release  by  the  Union  forces  had  already  drawn 
from  Wirz  his  infamous  order  :  "If  the  United  States  forces 
come  within  seven  miles,  the  entire  artillery  will  be  opened 
on  the  inmates  of  the  stockade." 

On  the  14th  of  September  "  Detachment  69  "  was  ordered 
away,  and  with  nothing  of  luggage  and  preparation,  were 
promptly  in  line.  Nature  never  seemed  so  lovely  as  when 
we  emerged  from  that  desert  of  death  and  viewed  once 
more  the  broad  green  fields  with  their  flowers  and  adjacent 
forests  ;  and  we  realized  as  never  before,  what  had  almost 
seemed  a  dream  of  youth,  the  beauties  of  "  God's  handi 
work."  The  enemy  carefully  promulgated  the  idea  that  our 
removal  was  for  exchange,  thinking  by  this  means  to  avoid 
attempts  at  escape,  as  they  could  not  furnish  sufficient 
guards  for  the  train.  About  four  miles  out,  the  engine 
jumped  the  track,  telescoping  the  cars,  killing  fifteen  pris 
oners  and  severely  wounding  nineteen  more.  Many  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  received  severe  injuries,  but  not 
being  wholly  disabled,  were  not  included  in  the  list  of 
casualties.  We  bivouacked  that  night  near  the  scene  of 
the  disaster  and  were  returned  next  morning  to  Anderson- 


398  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ville,  where  we  remained  till  the  28th  inst.  As  we  left  that 
day,  Wirz  remarked,  "Don't  you  lets  me  see  you  tamm 
Yankees  some  more  !  "  to  which  one  of  our  men  responded, 
"We  want  to  see  you  some  more!  just  once  on  even 
terms  !  "  but  he  was  quickly  hustled  along  by  his  comrades, 
fearing  the  revolver  Wirz  held  in  his  hand.  Many  of  the 
men  had  little  faith  in  the  promised  exchange,  but  we  were 
certainly  moving  towards  Savannah,  at  which  place  we 
arrived  October  1st. 

Our  treatment  at  Savannah  was  most  humane  ;  the  citizens 
offering  food  and  clothing,  and  especially  vegetables,  for  the 
lack  of  which  we  had  suffered  severely.  In  every  way 
possible  for  them,  they  ministered  to  our  wants  and  even 
received  some  of  our  sick  into  their  hospitals,  with  equal 
care  bestowed  upon  their  own  men.  Thomas  C.  Allis  of 
Company  K  found  an  uncle  who  assumed  his  care.  We 
gladly  testify  to  the  kindly  feeling  here  shown,  as  a  more 
true  expression  of  the  heart  of  the  Southern  people,  whose 
hospitality  before  the  war  was  proverbial,  and  call  attention  to 
this  oasis  amidst  the  desert  of  human  feeling  we  experienced. 
The  responsibility  for  our  atrocious  treatment  was  not  with 
the  people  ;  it  rested  nearer  the  throne. 

October  23d  we  were  moved  to  Millen,  by  which  act  the 
veil  of  falsehood  was  removed,  and  all  doubts  dispelled  as 
to  the  enemy's  first  intent.  While  on  the  way,  Corp.  Erastus 
Innman  of  Company  K  escaped,  and  after  three  captures 
and  re-escapes  reached  our  lines  at  Hilton  Head,  where, 
falling  in  with  K.  R.  McGregor,  formerly  a  corporal  of  his 
company,  he  was  kindly  aided  home.  We  were  now  in 
small  detachments,  some  thirty  having  been  left  in  the 
hospital  at  Andersonville,  unable  to  be  moved,  ten  were  in 
hospitals  at  Savannah,  eighty  were  confined  at  Millen  and 
the  remainder  were  about  equally  divided  between  Charles 
ton  and  Florence,  S.  C.  Seventy-two  were  already  dead. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  narrate  the  experiences  of  Millen, 


GE\'L  SHERMAN  ARRIVES  AT  MILLEN.         399 

Blackshire  and  Thoraasville,  Ga.,  or  Charleston  and  Florence, 
S.  C.  We  were  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  Gen'l 
"Winder,  and  whoever  commanded  the  post,  or  wherever  we 
were,  hardships  and  cruelties  continued,  with  lessened  vitality 
and  courage  on  our  part  to  endure  them. 

Election  day,  by  request  of  the  enemy,  a  vote  was  taken 
at  Millen  ;  our  keepers  professing  to  believe  that  if  it  was  left 
with  the  soldiers,  Gen'l  McClellan  would  be  elected  President. 
Their  disgust  at  President  Lincoln's  overwhelming  majority 
was  beyond  bounds.  The  vote  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass,  was,  Lincoln  60,  McClellan  14. 

Early  in  November,  a  special  exchange  of  sick  and 
disabled  prisoners  was  made,  in  which  quite  a  number  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  were  included,  their  condition  being 
such  as  is  described  in  "personals"  included  in  this  work. 

Gen'l  Sherman's  movement  from  Atlanta,  Nov.  14,  1864, 
and  the  near  approach  of  Gen'l  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  enforced 
removal  from  Millen  also,  and  on  the  21st  of  November 
we  were  forwarded  via  Savannah  to  Blackshire,  Ga.,  where 
our  bivouac  was  in  an  open  field.  We  left  at  Millen  about 
thirty-four  hundred  prisoners  unable  to  move,  amongst 
whom  were  many  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh.  For 
several  days  following  our  departure  from  Millen  the  boom 
ing  of  cannon  was  plainly  heard,  and  upon  the  morning  of 
December  3d  the  guard  suddenly  disappeared  from  the 
stockade.  The  enemy  had  vainly  used  deceit,  threats  arid 
force  to  induce  the  prisoners  to  march  out,  but  as  the  men 
were  too  far  reduced  to  do  so,  they  left  them  with  the  excla 
mation  :  "Go  to  h — 1  then;  if  the  Yankees  get  you  they 
can't  save  you  from  the  devil  !  "  For  hours,  all  was  anxious 
expectation,  when,  suddenly  the  gates  were  opened  and 
Gen'l  Sherman  rode  in  with  a  detachment  of  cavalry  bearing 
the  glorious  old  flag.  The  sight  was  too  incredible  for  belief, 
and  the  captives  almost  feared  it  to  be  the  workings  of  diseased 
minds.  "  Boys,"  said  the  General,  "  you  are  my  boys  now  ! 


400          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   EEGIMENT. 

We  have  come  a  great  ways  for  you  !  Cheer  up  and  I  will 
see  you  have  good  care  now  !  "  Were  there  cheers  ?  There 
were  attempts  ;  but  the  weak,  husky  echo  was  but  an  index 
of  the  will.  Still  they  did  cheer,  until  the  tears  from  the 
captives  and  their  rescuers  choked  farther  utterance.  After 
some  days  of  careful  nursing,  the  sick  were  placed  upon 
captured  steamers,  guarded  down  the  Ogeechee  River,  and 
after  the  capture  of  Savannah  were  forwarded  North. 

After  two  weeks'  delay  the  prisoners  at  Blackshire,  Ga., 
were  removed  to  Thomaston,  remaining  there  until  about 
December  20th.  We  were  then  marched  some  fifty-three 
miles  to  Albany,  Ga.,  and,  taking  cars,  re-arrived  at  Ander- 
sonville  Dec.  24,  1864.  Christmas  followed,  but  there 
was  nothing  to  remind  us  of  this  festive  day,  nothing 
exhibited  of  feeling  by  our  remorseless  foe,  indicating  any 
knowledge  of  the  Divine  Being  whom  the  day  honored. 

The  inclemency  of  winter  with  only  shreds  for  clothing, 
added  to  the  brutality  of  our  captors,  rendered  life  a  burden  ; 
"yet  we  must  not,  will  not  give  up,  though  facing  cold, 
starvation,  and  death,  by  day  and  by  night."  Jan.  18,  1865, 
Corp.  Perry  of  Company  I  wrote: — "Fearfully  rough  and 
cold  ;  we  are  freezing,  with  hardly  rations  enough  for  one 
scant  meal." 

"  The  crowd  was  famished  by  degrees, 
And,  shivering,  scraped  with  their  cold  skeleton  hands 
The  cooling  ashes     Their  feeble  breath 
Blew  for  a  little  life,  then  lifted  up  their  eyes 
And  beheld  each  other's  aspect, 
Saw,  and  shrieked,  and  died." 

Gen'l  Winder  had  died  suddenly,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Gen'l  J.  D.  Jmboden,  but  Wirz  was  still  our  persecutor. 
In  March  a  few  more  of  our  men  were  exchanged,  reaching 
Vicksburg,  Miss.,  the  27th  inst.  Those  remaining  were 
again  scattered,  to  avoid  capture,  marching  to  Thomasville 


THE    PRISONERS     ARE     ABANDONED.  401 

and  back,  a  long,  toilsome  journey,  of  over  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles. 

April  9th  witnessed  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  his  army, 
but  we,  —  again  returned  to  our  pen  at  Andersonville,  — 
knew  nothing  of  the  triumphs  of  our  arms.  April  15th  the 
enemy  had  another  scare,  and  we  were  ordered  on  the  cars 
"for  exchange"  as  usual,  but  in  this  we  had  no  faith. 
Reaching  Albany,  Ga.,  we  again  marched  through  Thomas- 
ville  into  Florida,  where,  on  the  evening  of  the  26th  inst., 
while  encamped  in  the  woods,  some  thirty  miles  from 
Jacksonville,  the  sad  news  of  the  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln  reached  us.  The  next  morning  Capt.  Wirz,  who 
had  attended  us  thus  far,  ordered  the  guard  removed  from 
around  our  camp,  leaving  the  wonderful  instructions,  "You 
uns  may  kere  for  yereselves,"  when  they  at  once  disappeared. 
Finding  Jacksonville  the  nearest  point  occupied  by  our 
forces,  we  directed  our  course  thither,  arriving  there  the 
afternoon  of  April  28,  1865.  Here  we  first  learned  of  the 
surrender  of  the  entire  Confederate  forces  and  the  virtual 
termination  of  the  war. 

As  we  looked  again  upon  the  banner  for  which  we  had 
suffered  so  much,  we  almost  worshipped  it,  and  involuntarily 
adopted  the  eloquent  lines  of  Drake  :  — 

"  Flag  of  the  free  heart's  hope  and  home  ! 

By  angel  hands  to  valor  given  ; 
Thy  stars  have  lit  the  welkin  dome, 

And  all  thy  hues  were  born  in  heaven. 
Forever  float  that  standard  sheet ! 

Where  breathes  the  foe  but  falls  before  us, 
With  Freedom's  soil  beneath  our  feet, 

And  Freedom's  banner  streaming  o'er  us." 

Comrade  Milo  H.  Cooley  of  Company  F,  writes:  "If 
there  was  ever  rejoicing  on  earth,  it  was  when  we  first  came 
in  sight  of  the  old  flag.  We  hurrahed,  with  tears  rolling 
down  our  cheeks,  threw  our  caps  in  air,  and  shouted  at  the 


402          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

top  of  our  voices,  continuing  until  our  strength  gave  out. 
I  never  shall  forget  that  happy  day  !  It  seemed  as  though 
1  had  got  into  a  new  world,  and  had  something  again  worth 
living  for." 

It  is  a  privilege,  in  closing  this  record,  to  note  the  care  the 
nation  is  bestowing  over  the  sacred  ashes  of  her  dead.  A 
national  cemetery  of  fifty  acres  has  been  enclosed  at  Ander- 
sonville,  and  tastily  laid  out  with  walks  and  drives.  By 
means  of  records  kept  by  Dorrence  Atwater  and  a  Mr. 
Welsh, — who,  as  prisoners  were  detailed  in  the  hospital, 
—  a  nearly  complete  list  of  names,  dates  of  deaths,  and 
number  on  the  stake  at  place  of  burial,  has  been  secured  by 
the  government,  by  which  twelve  thousand  four  hundred  and 
sixty-one  graves  have  been  suitably  marked  by  marble  slabs, 
inscribed  with  the  name,  regiment,  company,  and  date  of 
death  of  its  occupant.  Only  five  hundred  and  seven  remain 
unknown,  amongst  which  are  fourteen  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Kegiment.  On  the  17th  of  August,  1865,  Col.  Moore,  U.  S.  A., 
in  the  midst  of  a  national  salute,  raised  the  stars  and  stripes 
over  this  hallowed  spot  and  conducted  funeral  service  over 
this  army  of  sleeping  dead,  closing  with  our  national  hymn, 
"  My  country,  'tis  of  thee."  Unfortunately,  during  the  haste 
incident  to  our  removal  from  Millen  to  avoid  capture  by  Gen'l 
Sherman,  the  records  of  that  place  were  lost  by  our  keepers. 
A  portion  of  them  were  accidentally  found  amongst  some 
refuse  paper-stock  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  by  which  the  names  of  a  small  number  of  those  who 
died  there  have  been  rescued  from  oblivion.  Those  at  Flor 
ence,  Charleston,  Savannah,  Blackshire  and  Thomasville,  are 
mostly  left  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  "  unknown."  Whether 
known  or  unknown,  the  scattered  remains  wherever  found 
have  been  removed  to  national  cemeteries,  at  convenient 
centres,  and  watchful  care  is  now  bestowed  upon  their  rest 
ing  place  by  agents  of  our  government. 


WHAT    THEY    SUFFERED.  403 


PERSONALS. 

Scrgt.  Henry  Dickinson,  of  Company  A,  our  United  States 
color-bearer  during  his  service,  was  a  "  Freemason,"  and 
through  that  order  received  many  favors  after  his  capture. 
He  learned  of  the  intended  removal  before  it  was  known  in 
the  stockade,  and  secured  a  transfer  to  the  first  detachment 
which  left  Andersonville  about  September  6th.  His  com 
rades  had  less  faith  in  the  promised  exchange  than  he,  and 
urged  him  to  remain  with  them,  as  he  was  in  fair  health. 
Finding  himself  deceived  when  at  Charleston  Race  Course, 
he  became  disheartened,  and  died  at  that  place  early  in 
October,  1864.  — (A  New  York  Cavalryman,) 

Oliver  A.  Clark,  private,  Company  A,  was  not  of  strong 
constitution,  and  early  fell  a  victim  to  chronic  diarrhoea. 
Finding  Charlie  Rensalier,  a  colored  boy  from  his  native 
town,  a  prisoner  there,  he  shared  with  him  the  little  left 
him  by  his  captors.  June  27th  he  was  carried  by  his  com 
rades  to  the  surgeon's  call.  Being  unconscious,  his  name 
was  fastened  upon  his  shoulder  (O.  A.  Clark,  Company  A, 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Detachment  69),  and  left  on  the 
ground  between  the  two  stockades  awaiting  the  surgeon. 
During  the  afternoon  a  burial  party  reported  him  lying 
upon  his  face,  and  apparently  dead.  His  death  is  entered 
on  this  date.  He  was  a  Christian  soldier,  with  courage 
equal  to  his  convictions. 

Calvin  C.  Hosford,  private,  Company  A,  was  so  far  re 
duced  by  scurvy  that  his  limbs  were  drawn  double,  and  he 
could  move  only  by  hitching  himself  backwards  with  his 
hands  and  resting  on  one  hip.  He  was  included  in  the  first 
exchange,  on  condition  that  he  would  get  from  the  Millen 
stockade  to  the  railroad,  a  mile  distant,  which  he  succeeded 
in  doing  by  a  hard  day's  work.  He  is  now  a  mechanic  at 
Haydenville,  Mass. 

Thomas  Bolton,  private,  Company  A,  did  not  know  his 


404  TWENTY- SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

own  nnme  when  exchanged,  and  was  saved  by  Corp.  Drake 
of  his  company,  who  responded  for  and  presented  him  to  the 
"  exchange  officer."  He  is  now  a  dentist  at  San  Fran 
cisco,  Cal. 

Francis  G.  Russell,  private,  Company  A,  was  assisted  to 
the  surgeon's  call  July  17th,  and  died  before  his  comrades 
had  left  him.  Cause,  chronic  diarrhoea.  —  (T.  Bolton.) 

James  F.  Thayer,  private,  Company  A,  died  within  the 
stockade,  without  medical  care,  July  23d,  of  starvation 
and  chronic  diarrhoea.  —  (T.  Bolton.) 

Thomas  C.  Brady,  private,  Company  A,  died  a  horrible 
death.  He  did  not  arrive  at  Andersonville  until  June  15th, 
and  being  naturally  despondent  he  remarked,  "What  sig 
nifies  it ;  a  man  can't  live  here  a  month."  He  was  constrained 
to  lie  down  and  die,  the  vermin  with  gangrene  having  de 
stroyed  the  supporting  walls  of  the  intestines.  His  word 
was  prophetic  ;  he  died  July  llth.  — ( Bollon  and  Hosford.) 

Alvin  A.  Clark,  corporal,  Company  A,  on  the  28th  day 
of  September,  when  our  detachment  left  Andersonville,  was 
left  in  the  stockade,  unconscious,  and  very  low,  in  the  care 
of  a  member  of  Company  H,  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  He 
died  the  30th  \mt.—(Ho8ford.) 

Sergt.  Abel  C.  Kinney,  Company  A,  was  aptly  known  by 
his  comrades  as  "Noble  Kinney."  He  was  helpless  during 
the  entire  fall,  but  being  a  favorite  with  the  men,  was  re 
tained  with  them,  which  no  doubt  saved  his  life  for  a  time. 
He  suffered  his  accumulating  ills  without  repining,  and 
cheerfully  conversed  of  his  approaching  death.  He  died  at 
Blackshire,  Ga.,  Dec.  11,  1864,  and  was  buried  in  the 
woods  north  of  the  village,  the  most  westerly  of  a  group 
of  graves.  They  laid  him  tenderly  on  a  bed  of  grass  and 
covered  him  with  the  same  before  filling  the  grave. —  (S.  /S. 
Hooper.) 

John  K.  Fuller,  private,  Company  I,  was  lying  near  by 
upon  the  ground,  unconscious,  when  his  name  was  called 


SHOT    BY    THE    GUARD.  405 

for  exchange.  Two  burly  men  came  forward,  each  angrily 
claiming  to  be  the  man  intended,  when  one  of  Fuller's  com 
pany  showed  the  officer  where  he  lay.  The  rejoinder  was 
significant :  "That  looks  more  like  it !" — (O.  C.  Hosford.) 
Comrade  Fuller  now  lives  at  Goshen,  Mass. 

Hiram  Aldrich,  private,  Company  I,  while  suffering  from 
what  we  knew  as  "  sun  fever,"  which  was  attended  with 
temporary  mental  aberration,  innocently  crossed  the  dead 
line,  and  was  shot  dead  by  the  guard  October  15th.  — (W. 
A.  Moody.) 

Daniel  Pratt,  private,  Company  I,  was  detailed  with 
others  August  23d,  to  gather  wood  for  the  camp,  and  while 
so  doing  concluded  to  attempt  escape.  He  was  recaptured, 
brought  within  the  stockade,  suspended  by  his  thumbs  and 
a  detail  of  seven  rebels  fired  upon  him  from  the  rear,  killing 
him  instantly.  —  (W.  A.  Moody.) 

William  P.  Bracey,  private,  Company  H,  October  12th, 
at  Millen,  while  looking  along  the  dead-line  for  crusts, 
which  were  often  thrown  over  by  the  guards,  or  visitors 
who  ascended  to  their  stations,  was  ordered  by  the  sentinel 
to  clear  out  or  he  would  shoot  him.  "Shoot!"  replied 
Bracey,  "you  can't  make  it  any  worse  for  me!"  He  was 
instantly  shot  through  the  head. —  (W.  A.  Moody.) 

Sergt.  John  W.  Bartlett,  of  Company  K,  was  among 
those  exchanged  from  Millen  in  November.  He  was  so  re 
duced  by  scurvy  and  chronic  diarrhoea  as  to  weigh  less  than 
one  hundred  pounds,  and  was  considered  incurable.  Pie 
was  placed  in  the  hospital  on  his  arrival  North  in  Novem 
ber,  and  was  unable  to  bear  removal  home  until  July,  1865. 
He  is  now  the  American  Express  Agent  between  Springfield 
and  Albany. 

William  A.  Moody,  private  of  Company  F,  sustained  a 
compound  fracture  of  the  bone  below  the  knee  at  Drewry's 
Bluff.  Severe  as  was  his  wound  the  rebels  gave  him  no 
surgical  care,  but  confined  him  in  Anderson ville  with  those 


406  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

uninjured.  The  washing  of  his  limb  with  cold  water  was 
the  only  care  he  could  bestow  upon  his  wound.  He  was 
much  reduced  at  the  time  of  his  removal  to  Milieu,  but  sup 
posing  the  removal  was  for  exchange,  he  mustered  courage 
for  the  journey.  After  arrival  at  Milieu  he  became  wholly 
crippled,  and  was  of  the  number  found  there  on  the  arrival 
of  Gen'l  Sherman's  troops.  He  remembers  the  arrival  of 
the  Union  cavalry  within  the  stockade,  but  he  was  so  low 
that  the  excitement  attending  the  occasion  overcame  his 
strength.  He  remembers  little  else  until  reviving  within 
our  hospitals  at  the  North.  He  still  lives  at  Northampton, 
but  with  enfeebled  health  and  strength. 

Corp.  Aaron  A.  Gage,  of  Company  I,  color  corporal  and 
bearer  of  the  flag  presented  by  the  ladies  of  Springfield, 
was  terribly  reduced  at  the  time  he  arrived  at  Millen.  Con 
sidering  his  case  hopeless  the  rebel  surgeon  placed  his  name 
on  the  list  for  exchange  in  November.  Finding  himself 
exchanged,  with  an  almost  superhuman  will  he  rose  above 
his  weakness  and  infirmities,  and  soon  after  reaching  our 
lines,  surprised  his  friends  by  appearing  at  their  door.  Al 
though  formerly  a  man  weighing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds,  he  then  weighed  but  ninety-six  pounds.  When 
ever  missing,  his  friends  knew  just  where  to  find  him,  and 
it  required  the  most  tender  watchfulness  and  care  to  prevent 
fatal  results  from  the  voracious  appetite  with  which  he  was 
pressed.  Comrade  Gage  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  has 
long  enjoyed  official  prominence  in  his  native  town,  and  is 
a  successful  manufacturer  at  Monson,  Mass. 

We  have  not  been  able  to  make  a  full  list  of  those  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  who  escaped  from  the  Rebels. 
In  addition  to  Comrades  O'Connell  and  Brizzee,  we  should 
mention  the  names  of  Corp.  Eldad  E.  Moore  of  Company  E, 
Sergt.  Alexander  G.  Harrington,  Corpls.  Irving  R.  Clark 
and  Henry  J.  Remmington,  all  of  Company  H ;  and  Corp. 
Erastus  Innman  of  Company  K.  These  all  escaped,  with  the 


FORGIVEN    BUT   NOT    FORGOTTEN.  407 

exception  of  Comrade  Clark,  by  jumping  from  the  trains, 
while  being  moved  from  place  to  place.  Comrades  Moore 
and  Kemmington  were  recaptured,  but  re-escaped  and  nar 
rowly  missed  capture  again  by  a  gang  of  guerrillas,  who 
seized  the  train  they  were  upon.  They  were  followed,  but 
getting  into  the  woods,  eluded  their  pursuers.  All  of  them 
reached  their  homes  in  such  a  condition  of  health  as  to 
awaken  the  keenest  solicitude  of  their  friends. 

We  might  enlarge  this  list  of  incidents  to  include  most  of 
our  number,  as  few  returned  without  permanent  disabilities, 
resulting  from  inhumanity,  neglect  and  disease.  We  are 
confident  our  friends  will  say,  it  is  enough ;  and  we  gladly 
leave  the  record  of  other  sufferings  to  the  fickle  monuments 
of  memory. 

It  would  be  well  if  the  hand  of  oblivion  could  blot  out  the 
terrible  story  of  Southern  prisons.  That  the  nineteenth 
century  should  have  witnessed  such  scenes  of  wanton  cruelty 
and  neglect,  seems  almost  beyond  belief.  The  record  ad 
mits  of  neither  denial  nor  apology.  We  may  forgive,  but 
to  forget  is  impossible.  Asa  driven  nail  leaves  its  scar  when 
withdrawn,  so  the  story  of  our  wrongs  will  leave  a  scar 
which  even  the  spirit  of  Christian  forgiveness  cannot  efface. 
How  can  we  forget  the  thirty-six  thousand  comrades  buried 
near  the  site  of  rebel  prisons,  or  the  blighted  lives  of  thou 
sands  more  who  survived  only  to  die  as  they  reached  their 
homes  ;  or  the  shattered  constitutions  of  men  still  forced  to 
rely  upon  a  grateful  country's  bounty  ? 


408          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OFFICEES    IN    PKISON. 

MUCH  of  the  experience  of  enlisted  men  in  rebel  prisons 
was  also  endured  by  officers  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and 
after  what  has  already  been  written,  need  not  be  repeated. 
On  reaching  Libby  Prison,  May  16,  1864,  they  were  re 
quired  to  register  their  names,  rank,  regiment  and  com 
pany.  They  were  then  subjected  to  examination  for  per 
sonal  effects,  as  already  described,  with  the  statement :  "If 
you  surrender  your  valuables  without  search,  they  will  be 
returned  when  you  are  exchanged,  but  failing  to  do  this, 
they  will  be  confiscated."  The  consequences  to  those  who 
voluntarily  surrendered  their  valuables  to  Turner  were  sad 
to  contemplate,  for  they  introduced  themselves  into  captivity 
without  any  means  to  relieve  its  misfortunes. 

After  search,  the  officers  were  confined  on  the  third  floor 
of  that  famous  gaol,  Libby  Prison.  It  was  a  large  three- 
story  building,  containing  nine  rooms,  each  about  forty  by 
one  hundred  feet.  The  lower  floor  was  used  for  hospital 
and  guard  purposes.  The  building  was  close  to  the  Lynch- 
burg  Canal  and  the  James  River.  In  full  view  across  the 
river  was  the  village  of  Manchester,  and  beyond,  mag 
nificent  plantations  with  mansions,  groves,  and  waving 
fields,  reaching  far  to  the  south  and  east.  Looking  from 
the  opposite  side  was  that  charnel-house  for  enlisted  men, 
Castle  Thunder ;  the  tents  of  our  guards  ;  and  the  uninviting 
rear  walls  of  buildings  facing  another  street. 


USELESS    REQUISITIONS.  409 

No  rations  were  issued  until  the  next  day,  under  the 
economical  plea,  "prison  rations  were  drawn  but  once  a 
day,"  our  arrival  (nine  A.M.)  being  too  late  to  be  included 
that  day.  It  was  a  very  convenient  rule,  and  was  found 
elastic  enough  to  preclude  the  issuing  of  rations  to  all  pris 
oners  the  day  of  their  arrival.  It  must  have  been  in  recog 
nition,  if  not  in  acknowledgment  of  the  fact,  that  the  surest 
means  of  destroying  courage  and  fortitude,  was  to  withhold 
the  means  of  sustaining  life.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  17th 
a  few  old  United  States  army  blankets,  —  discarded  by 
former  prisoners,  —  with  one  cup,  spoon,  and  plate  for 
three,  and  some  black  bean  soup,  were  issued  to  us.  Hun 
gry  as  we  were,  many  declined  the  unpalatable  dish. 

When  our  funds  were  taken,  Turner  said  we  might  draw 
against  them  at  the  rate  of  seven  dollars  in  Confederate 
currency  to  one  of  greenbacks,  not  to  exceed  one  hundred 
dollars  per  month.  A  few  days  later  he  appeared  with  a  pen 
and  requisitions,  saying  that  if  signed  by  us  he  would  bring 
the  funds  the  next  morning.  The  third  day  he  returned, 
claiming  there  was  some  informality  in  the  first  requisition, 
when  a  second  was  signed,  and  a  few  days  later  he  sought  sig 
natures  to  a  third,  on  the  same  pretext.  This  we  refused,  and 
it  is  hardly  necessary  to  add  we  heard  nothing  farther  from 
our  funds.  Fortunately,  Col.  Lee  espied  a  familiar  face 
upon  the  street,  whom  he  recognized  as  formerly  attached  to 
the  United  States  Armory  at  Springfield,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  a  note  to  him,  inducing  him  to  call.  As  he  left,  he 
slipped  one  hundred  dollars  into  Col.  Lee's  hands,  and  soon 
after  sent  in  a  basket  containing  knife,  fork,  spoons,  cup, 
basin,  and  towel,  all  of  which  was  contributed  to  the  mess 
of  the  captured  officers  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 

Dick  Turner,  who  was  the  animating  spirit  of  this  gaol, 
was  a  vindictive  Baltimorean,  and  so  close  a  counterpart  of 
Gen'l  Winder,  his  chief,  was  he,  as  to  often  be  himself  the 
instigator  of  acts  of  brutality.  He  so  completely  overawed 


410          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

all  sense  of  humanity  in  subordinates  as  to  impress  a  doubt 
as  to  its  possession  by  any  of  them.  One  of  them  has 
remarked,  since  the  war,  "Turner  is  the  greatest  scoundrel 
that  ever  went  unhung." 

After  remaining  at  Richmond  until  May  31st,  we  were 
aroused,  at  five  A.  M.,  and  ordered  to  get  ready  to  go  south. 
As  we  filed  out  of  Libby,  half  a  loaf  of  corn  bread,  and  a 
slice  of  bacon  was  given  to  each,  and,  after  a  slight  delay,  we 
were  marched  over  the  river  to  Manchester,  the  terminus  of 
the  Danville  Railway.  Here  we  were  hustled  into  box-cars, 
and  at  7.30  A.  M.  started  for  Danville,  at  which  place  we 
arrived  about  one  o'clock  the  morning  of  June  1st.  At 
seven  A.  M.  we  were  transferred  to  the  Greensboro  road  and 
to  the  care  of  a  detachment  of  the  Third  Virginia  Infantry, 
under  a  Lieut.  Gay.  We  were  favored  with  passenger 
coaches  on  this  road  to  Greensboro,  but  at  that  place  sixty- 
two  officers  were  crammed  into  a  box-car  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  At  two  A.  M.  June  2d  we  started  for  Salisbury, 
but  the  train  moved  with  great  difficulty,  and  with  frequent 
delays  to  get  up  steam.  A  drenching  rain  —  by  cooling  the 
air  —  made  our  overcrowded  condition  more  endurable. 

While  waiting  at  Salisbury,  a  citizen  recognized  Col. 
White  of  the  Fifty-Fifth  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  and  entered 
into  conversation  with  him.  A  guard  named  Arnold  ordered 
Col.  White  back,  and  away  from  the  car  door.  From  some 
cause  the  guard  failed  to  attract  Col.  White's  attention, 
which  resulted  in  the  latter  being  roughly  seized  by  the 
guard  and  thrust  back,  with  the  exclamation,  "  Go  in  there 

you  Yankee  son  of  a  1 "  Capt.  Belger  protested 

against  such  treatment,  which  the  guard  resented  by  levelling 
his  /musket  at  him  saying,  "  I'll  learn  a  Yankee  how  to  talk 
to  me  !  "  He  was  checked  from  firing  by  a  Capt.  Carpenter — 
who  was  sitting  upon  the  roof  of  the  car,  —  saying,  "  I  see 
no  cause  for  such  treatment."  The  enraged  Arnold  struck 
Carpenter  several  times  upon  his  feet  and  legs  with  his 


SOME    SPECIMENS    OF    CHIVALRY.  411 

gun,  when  the  latter  withdrew  from  his  reach,  and  sup 
posed  the  affair  ended.  A  few  moments  later  the  guard 
appeared  upon  the  car  behind  Capt.  Carpenter,  and  dealt 
him  two  stunning  blows  upon  his  head  with  his  musket,  and 
left  him  with  the  exclamation,  "There!  d — n  you,  take 
that ! "  While  efforts  were  being  made  to  resuscitate  the 
injured  man,  Lieut.  Gay  happened  along,  and,  hearing 
Arnold's  story,  called  the  guards  around  him  and  delivered 
the  following  tirade  :  "  I've  heard  of  Arnold's  affair.  He 
did  just  right !  Don't  you  take  a  word  from  the  d— n 
Yankees.  If  the}'  don't  mind  at  the  first  word,  put  a  bullet 
through  'em,  d — n  'em  !  Arnold  did  just  right !  "  A  citizen 
and  one  of  the  guard  attempted  to  say,  Capt.  Carpenter  was 
not  at  fault,  but  Gay  stopped  them  with  an  oath,  saying, 
"Arnold  did  right!"  There  were  about  seven  hundred 
enlisted  men  upon  the  train  as  prisoners,  and  at  one  of  our 
stops,  liberty  had  been  granted  some  of  them  to  get  off  and 
fill  their  canteens.  A  sick  man  was  attempting,  by  the  aid 
of  comrades,  to  get  into  the  cars  as  the  train  started,  which 
being  noticed  by  Lieut.  Gay,  he  gave  orders  to  one  of 
the  guard  to  shoot  him,  and  a  moment  later  his  body  was 
being  ground  under  the  wheels  of  the  train. 

We  arrived  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  at  four  P.  M.  June  2d  and 
marched  to  a  grove  near  by,  where  we  remained  in  a  drench 
ing  rain  until  morning.  So  profuse  was  the  fall  of  rain,  we 
began  a  serious  inquiry  what  we  should  do,  but  it  was  so 
much  better  than  being  packed  in  close  cars,  we  con 
cluded  to  let  it  rain.  At  early  morning  two  days'  ra 
tions  were  issued,  consisting  of  four  hard-tack  and  one- 
fourth  a  pound  of  bacon,  after  which  we  were  again 
crowded  into  box-cars,  and  moved  for  Columbia,  S.  C.  We 
arrived  at  this  place  just  before  dark  June  3d,  disappoint 
ing  a  large  crowd  at  the  depot  who  had  congregated  with 
supplies  of  home  luxuries,  anticipating  the  arrival  of  a  train 
loaded  with  Confederate  wounded.  Their  disgust  when  they 


412  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

found  it  was  "  nothing  but  a  load  of  Yankee  ghouls"  was 
beyond  bounds.  Here  we  again  changed  cars,  this  time  to 
a  train  just  cleared  of  cattle  and  as  yet  uncleaned.  The 
morning  of  the  4th  found  us  at  Branchville,  the  junction  of 
the  South  Carolina  and  Charleston  railroads,  and  four 
o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  same  day  at  Augusta,  Ga.  After  cross 
ing  the  river  we  were  confined  in  a  cotton-pen  for  the  night, 
with  a  brick  pavement  for  a  bed.  Here  we  bade  adieu  to 
the  inhuman  Lieut.  Gay  and  his  cohorts,  and  passed  into  the 
keeping  of  Capt.  Bradford  (son  of  ex-Governor  Bradford  of 
Maryland),  Provost  Marshal  of  Augusta,  Ga.  Here  supplies 
of  hard-tack  and  bacon  were  ample,  and  of  good  quality, 
with  which  our  needs  were  fully  satisfied. 

Sunday,  June  5th,  crowds  flocked  from  the  surrounding 
country  to  see  the  "  Yanks,"  and  many  leading  citizens  were 
admitted  into  our  enclosure,  and  conversed  freely  of  the 
war.  Among  these  was  a  former  citizen  of  Massachusetts, 
but  who  was  now  a  cotton  manufacturer  at  this  point.  He 
provided  us  a  good  dinner,  and  gave  us  a  considerable  sum 
of  money  to  relieve  our  future  needs.  It  is  stated  on  good 
authority  that  this  gentleman  contributed  upwards  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars  to  relieve  the  necessities  of  our  prisoners. 
Soon  after  noon  we  were  formed  in  line,  and  stood  in  the 
broiling  sun  until  five  o'clock,  when  we  marched  to  the  sta 
tion  in  a  heavy  shower.  After  a  comfortable  night's  ride 
we  arrived  at  Macon,  Ga.,  June  6th,  at  nine  A.M. 

Camp  Oglethorpe  of  Macon,  Ga.,  was  a  stockade  contain 
ing  a  trifle  less  than  three  acres,  and  was  intended  for  offi 
cers  alone.  It  Avas  supplied  with  all  modern  improvements, 
including  heartless  keepers,  vindictive  and  ignorant  guards, 
dead-lines  and  bloodhounds.  All  the  peculiarities  of  Ander- 
sonville  were  to  be  found  at  this  place,  save  its  over-crowded 
condition  and  lack  of  shelter.  These  were  important  con 
siderations,  and  saved  us  from  much  of  the  suffering  and 
fatality  incident  to  that  Gehenna.  Our  shelter,  however, 


GREETINGS  AT  CAMP  OGLETHORPE.          413 

was  more  a  pretence  than  a  reality,  since  at  no  time  were 
there  less  than  two  hundred  without  it.  The  prison 
ers  were  divided  into  detachments  of  one  hundred,  the 
senior  officer  being  placed  in  command,  and  for  con 
venience  in  culinary  matters,  the  detachments  were  sub 
divided  into  squads  of  twenty.  Few  articles  were  issued 
to  aid  in  cooking,  the  rule  being,  borrow  or  lend.  Eations 
for  five  days  consisted  of  seven  pints  of  corn  meal,  one-half 
a  pint  of  sorghum,  two  ounces  of  bacon,  two  table-spoon 
fuls  of  beans  or  rice,  and  two  of  salt.  Quality  was  of  no 
consideration  to  them.  After  roll-call  we  were  marched  by 
squads  into  the  enclosure,  and  were  greeted,  as  we  entered, 
by  the  cry,  '  'Fresh  fish  !  Fresh  fish  !  !  "  For  a  time  after 
entering  the  stockade,  we  were  known  as  "fresh  fish  ;  "  then 
as  "suckers;"  after  six  months,  as  "  dried  cod,"  those  of 
longest  term  being  known  as  "dried  herring,"  the  highest 
order  in  the  fraternity.  When  any  were  enrolled  for  ex 
change,  they  were  known  as  "  pickled  sardines." 

We  were  hardly  within  the  enclosure,  before  most  of  us 
heard  our  names  familiarly  called  from  the  motley  crowd, 
and  soon  found  ourselves  surrounded  by  old-time  associates 
from  North  Carolina.  These  included  among  others,  Gen'l 
Wessell,  Lieut.  Col.  Fellows  of  the  Seventeenth  Mass  , 
Capt.  Ira  B.  Sampson  and  Lieut.  H.  L.  Clark  of  the  Second 
Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  and  Col.  Swift,  brother  of  Capt. 
Swift.  It  was  a  jovial  meeting,  in  spite  of  its  unfortunate 
associations.  Our  friends  received  us  with  all  possible  hos 
pitality,  and  as  we  were  conveniently  late  to  excuse  our 
captors  from  issuing  rations  to  us  that  day,  they  generously 
divided  their  meagre  pittance  to  relieve  our  necessities. 

There  were  those  here  in  confinement,  who  had  been  in 
captivity  upwards  of  twenty  months,  and,  amidst  accumulat 
ing  disappointments  and  poverty,  had  sunk  into  moral 
apathy  and  squalid  personal  neglect.  This  is  hardly  to  be 
wondered  at,  for  the  impression  had  fixed  itself  upon  their 


414  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

minds  that  their  country  was  needlessly  neglecting  them  to 
waste  and  die  in  captivity.  While  there  was  much  to  sug 
gest  former  education  and  refinement,  yet  their  spirits  had 
become  so  broken,  and  their  surroundings  so  repulsive, 
that  they  easily  fell  into  low  vulgarity  and  profanity,  with 
the  most  complete  neglect  of  person  and  appearance. 
"  Fresh  fish  "  when  they  arrived,  would  often  manifest  great 
disgust  at  what  seemed  to  them,  our  needless  squalor.  These 
would  determine  to  show  "  cod "  and  "herrings,"  how  a 
gentleman  could  live,  but  after  a  few  weeks'  combat,  they 
would  yield  to  the  inexorable,  and  often  prove  the  most 
squalid  of  all.  It  is  worthy  of  note,  however,  that  none  so 
far  forgot  their  love  for  country  as  to  falter  in  their  loyalty. 

Roll-call  was  effected  each  morning  by  deploying  a  com 
pany  across  the  centre  of  the  enclosure,  then  carefully  driv 
ing  all  the  prisoners  to  one  side,  and  counting  them  as  they 
filed  through  the  line  to  the  opposite  side.  But  so  many 
tricks  were  played  upon  the  guards  in  doing  this,  that  it 
often  required  three  hours,  and  two  or  three  counts  to  satisfy 
them.  For  amusements,  clubs  were  formed  in  wicket, 
cricket,  and  base  ball ;  while  those  seeking  improvement 
sought  it  in  the  study  of  the  languages,  rhetoric  and  "  But 
ler's  Analogy." 

June  10th,  five  generals,  nine  colonels,  eleven  lieutenant- 
colonels  and  twenty-five  majors  were  removed  from  the 
stockade,  and  carried  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  for  the  purpose 
of  placing  them  under  fire  of  our  batteries,  then  engaged 
in  bombarding  that  place.  Gen'ls  Wessell  and  Heckman, 
with  Col.  H.  C.  Lee  and  Lieut.  Col.  W.  G.  Bartholomew, 
were  included  in  this  number.  For  a  time  they  were  con 
fined  in  Charleston  Jail,  but  under  a  protest  from  Gen'l  Sey 
mour,  the  senior  Union  officer  present,  they  were  allowed 
the  choice  of  any  unoccupied  house  within  the  bombarded 
district.  They  selected  a  three-story  house  on  Broad  Street 
near  Ashley  River,  and  secured  commodious  and  healthful 


UNDER   FIRE    AT    CHARLESTON,    S.  C.  415 

quarters.  They  were  permitted  to  purchase  extra  supplies, 
and  though  under  the  fire  of  our  batteries,  and  confined  to 
prescribed  limits,  were  more  favorably  situated  than  any 
equal  number  of  Union  prisoners  elsewhere.  That  they  did 
not  suffer  from  the  barbarous  act  of  their  captors,  is  due  to  a 
marked  providence,  rather  than  to  a  disposition  on  the  part 
of  their  enemies.  The  act  of  placing  our  helpless  prisoners 
under  fire  was  protested  against  by  our  former  commander, 
Maj.  Gen'l  John  G.  Foster,  then  commanding  the  Union 
forces  before  Charleston,  and  a  requisition  was  made  on 
our  government  for  prisoners  equal  in  number  and  rank,  to 
place  under  the  fire  of  their  batteries  in  retaliation.  The 
requisition  was  honored  by  our  government,  and  an  equal 
number  of  Confederate  officers  were  placed  under  the  fire 
of  the  rebel  guns,  until  an  exchange  was  effected  Aug.  2, 
1864.  The  exchange  did  not  involve  the  abandonment  of 
this  inhuman  policy,  for  six  hundred  more  Union  officers 
were  brought  to  Charleston  July  31st,  and  replaced  those 
released.  Included  in  this  number  were  the  remaining 

O 

officers  belonging  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  As 
illustrating  the  ineffectiveness  of  our  blockade,  Col.  Lee 
writes,  an  average  of  two  blockaders  per  week  arrived 
during  his  stay  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  debilitating  effect  of  intense  heat  and  scanty  rations, 
upon  those  retained  at  Macon,  created  extreme  dissatisfac 
tion,  and  reports  favoring  an  exchange  were  magnified  into  a 
reality.  "Exchange  fevers"  ran  high,  and  usually  arose 
from  lies  originating  with  our  keepers,  that  they  might  en 
joy  and  taunt  our  disappointed  hopes.  Tunnelling  was  as 
frequent  and  attended  with  equal  disadvantages  and  disap 
pointments  as  with  our  enlisted  men  ;  and  deaths  at  the  dead 
line  —  in  proportion  to  numbers  present  —  were  as  frequent 
and  barbarous  as  at  Anderson ville.  Foolish  attempts  were 
made  to  repress  expressions  of  loyalty,  and  chaplains  were 
threatened  with  dire  vengeance  if  they  persisted  in  invoking 


416  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  Divine  blessing  upon  our  cause.  The  morning  of  July 
4th  was  observed  by  patriotic  songs  and  speeches,  but  an 
officer  entered,  threatening  the  orators  with  irons  and  solitary 
confinement,  if  they  persisted  in  any  farther  notice  of  the  day. 
When  Capt.  Tabb  prohibited  praying  for  the  president  of  the 
United  States,  Chaplain  Dixon  of  the  Sixteenth  Connecticut, 
at  once  stepped  forward  and  warmly  invoked  God's  blessing 
upon  all  in  authority,  especially  the  president,  his  cabinet,  and 
our  armies.  Capt.  Tabb  withdrew  in  disgust,  remarking, 

" smart  prayer,  but  I  don't  believe  it  will  amount  to 

anything."  Such  petty  tyranny  was  as  ineffectual  as  it  was 
puerile  and  vindictive. 

July  27th,  orders  were  received  to  move  the  camp.  These 
orders  meant  more  to  us  than  to  those  who  issued  them,  for 
they  suggested  opportunities  for  escape,  and  to  obey  them 
included  such  preparations  as  would  enable  us  to  avail  our 
selves  of  the  first  opportunity  of  getting  free.  The  first 
detachment  was  removed  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  July  28th. 
The  remainder  left  Camp  Oglethorpe  the  29th  inst.  A  num 
ber  got  under  rather  than  in  the  cars,  and  while  the  train 
stopped  for  wood  and  water,  made  good  their  escape.  Others 
busied  themselves  cutting  through  the  floor  of  the  cars,  intend 
ing  to  attempt  escape  when  near  the  coast.  Our  surprise  was 
great  when  we  found  ourselves  rushing  past  the  Charleston 
Railroad  junction,  and  before  we  could  determine  our 
course  and  perfect  new  plans,  we  were  borne  into  Savan 
nah.  Our  prison-pen  at  this  place  consisted  of  a  portion  of 
the  Marine  Hospital  grounds,  enclosed  on  three  sides  with 
an  eight-foot  brick  wall,  surmounted  by  a  board  fence,  and 
upon  the  fourth  side  by  a  twelve-foot  board  fence.  Several 
large  trees  were  standing  upon  the  field,  and  these,  with  a 
few  "  A  "  tents,  furnished  all  the  shelter  we  had.  Our  guard 
consisted  of  the  First  Georgia  Regiment,  Col.  Wayne,  sen 
try  stations  being  constructed  along  the  line  of  the  wall,  and 
overlooking  the  enclosure.  The  rations  were  a  decided  im- 


FROM  SAVANNAH  TO  CHARLESTON.          417 

provement  in  quantity  and  quality  over  those  at  Oglethorpe. 
To  make  escape  doubly  difficult,  elevated  fires  were  kept 
burning  during  the  night  between  the  dead-line  and  walls, 
and  a  line  of  sentries  were  posted  without  and  at  some  dis 
tance  from  the  enclosure,  so  as  to  detect  the  opening  of  tun 
nels  outside  the  grounds.  We  remained  here  with  usual 
prison  experiences  some  six  weeks,  Col.  Wayne  being  at 
times  lenient  and  liberal,  at  others  morose,  fitful,  and  vindic 
tive  ;  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  predict  a  day's  experience 
in  advance. 

Monday  eve,  Sept.  12,  1864,  orders  came  to  "pack  up 
and  be  ready  to  move  to-morrow  morning  at  five  o'clock." 
The  night  was  spent  in  preparation  and  surmise,  the  wish 
expressed  being  that  this  move  might  be  to  "  God's  Coun 
try,"  another  name  for  home.  Morning  found  us  crowded 
into  coal  cars,  old,  filthy,  and  dilapidated,  and  our  train 
moving  northward  along  the  coast.  In  passing  Pocotaligo, 
we  were  Avithin  eleven  miles  of  the  Union  lines,  and,  had 
night  favored  us,  an  attempt  would  have  been  made  to  over 
power  the  guard.  Our  journey,  however,  passed  without 
incident,  and  we  arrived  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  September 
13th,  at  two  r.  M.  We  were  incarcerated  in  Charleston 
Jail,  as  filthy,  verminous,  and  comfortless  a  place  as  could 
be  imagined.  Permanent  gallows  graced  the  enclosure,  and 
everything  indicated  it  as  having  been  the  abode  of  crimi 
nals  of  the  worst  character.  Within  this  gaol  we  found 
portions  of  the  Massachusetts  Fifty-Fourth  and  Fifty-Fifth 
colored  regiments,  who  had  been  captured  in  the  assault  on 
Fort  Wagner.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  loyalty  of  these 
brave  men,  their  only  wish  expressed,  being,  that  they 
might  be  released  to  renew  their  contest  for  their  country 
in  its  hour  of  need. 

It  was  wonderful  to  witness  the  fertility  of  resource 
shown  by  our  jailers  in  inventing  epithets  to  express  their 
abhorrence  of  us.  We  were  "mud-sills,"  "Abolitionists," 


418  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

''black  Republicans,"  "Yankee  scabs,"  "ycleps"  and 
"ghouls,"  while  "anything  was  too  good  for  us."  du 
rations  were  about  as  bad  as  could  be,  while  the  following 
effort  at  a  parody  on  "  When  this  cruel  war  is  over"  sug 
gests  how  satisfying  they  were  in  quantity  :  — 

"  Weeping  sad  and  lonely, 

Oh,  how  bad  I  feel ; 
Down  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
Praying  for  a  good  square  meal." 

Ten  days'  rations  consisted  of  three  pints  of  flour,  five  of 
corn  meal,  four  spoonfuls  of  rice,  or  two  of  beans,  and  two 
ounces  of  bacon,  or  in  lieu  of  the  last,  one  gill  of  sorghum. 
Those  who  had  funds  could  buy  milk  at  a  dollar  and  a  half 
per  quart,  flour  at  three  dollars  per  pound,  and  sweet  pota 
toes  at  thirty  dollars  per  bushel.  The  sun  beat  like  a  smelt 
ing  furnace  on  us ;  and  the  enclosing  walls  prevented  any 
circulation  of  air.  Fully  one-half  the  prisoners  were  with 
out  shelter  of  any  kind,  and  with  clothes  so  ragged  as  to  be 
of  little  use.  None  of  them  had  more  than  the  suits  they 
wore  when  captured,  and  these  had  been  economized  by 
wearing  only  underclothes  a  part  of  the  time.  When  both 
had  failed  they  repaired  one  with  the  other,  until  it  was 
considerable  of  a  question  to  decide  whether  they  had  been 
outer  or  inner  garments.  No  attempt  was  made  to  renovate 
the  enclosure.  So  extreme  became  our  destitution  and  so 
offensive  the  effluvia,  that  many  subscribed  to  a  parole  not 
to  attempt  to  escape,  or  hold  converse  with  any  one  outside 
the  guard  line,  if  permitted  to  go  to  the  Roper  Hospital. 
This  was  a  building  designed  as  a  city  hospital,  and  was  a 
paradise  compared  with  the  jail-yard. 

Lack  of  sanitary  regulations  within  the  city,  together  with 
the  large  number  confined  in  and  around  Charleston  (thou 
sands  of  our  prisoners  from  Andersonville  being  now  en 
camped  on  Charleston  Race  Course)  engendered  that  fatal 


CAMP    SORGHUM,    COLUMBIA,    S.    C.  419 

malady,  "yellow  fever."  As  the  enemy  were  forced  to 
remain  with  us,  sheer  self-preservation  was  sufficient  to 
insure  our  removal.  During  our  entire  stay  at  Charleston, 
shells  from  our  guns  on  Morris  Island  had  been  exploding 
over  and  around  us,  but  by  a  wonderful  providence  only  one 
of  our  Union  prisoners  was  injured,  and  he  but  slightly. 
As  we  marched  up  King  Street  (the  Broadway  of  Charles 
ton),  rank  weeds  and  grass  were  growing  untrodden  upon 
it.  The  desolations  of  war  had  sought  out  this  iniquitous 
centre  of  treason,  and  visited  upon  it  in  full,  the  measure  it 
had  prepared  for  others.  As  we  reached  the  railroad  sta 
tion,  a  thirty-pound  shell  from  a  Union  gun  buried  itself 
in  the  ground  near  by  without  exploding,  and  was  greeted 
by  us  with  vociferous  cheers. 

Our  journey  to  Columbia  was  made  in  one  night,  our 
train  arriving  there  at  one  A.M.,  October  6th.  Here  we 
were  turned  over  to  the  care  of  a  Capt.  Semple,  and  re 
mained  without  rations  until  the  morning  of  the  7th.  We 
were  then  marched  across  the  Saluda  River  to  the  top  of  a 
hill  two  miles  distant,  where  we  found  a  field  partially 
covered  with  second-growth  pines,  surrounded  with  a  line 
of  sentinels.  This  field  was  named  by  us  "Camp  Sorg 
hum,"  from  the  fact  that  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-three 
days  sorghum  was  issued  here  in  lieu  of  meat.  Into  this 
field  we  were  turned  like  cattle,  without  a  piece  of  canvas 
or  a  board,  without  an  axe  or  spade  with  which  to  construct 
a  shelter,  or  a  cooking  utensil  with  which  to  cook  the  raw 
rations  furnished  to  us.  This  was  Andersonville,  indeed. 
Pine-brush  booths  were  made,  but  they  were  no  defence 
against  a  two  weeks'  storm  which  then  set  in.  Cold  autumn 
winds  swept  the  hill  with  a  chill  which  pierced  our  shrivelled 
forms,  while  our  petitions  for  shelter  met  the  stereotype 
answer,  "I'm  expecting  tents  every  day  sufficient  for  all 
your  wants."  This  continued  for  several  weeks,  until  the 
frigid  heart  of  our  keeper,  melted  sufficient  to  allow  us  to 


420  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    KEGIMENT. 

buy  a  few  axes  and  shovels  (the  former  at  forty-five  dollars 
each),  by  the  aid  of  which  we  succeeded  in  constructing 
quite  a  number  of  huts,  before  our  next  removal. 

This  was  our  first  prison  experience  without  either  wall, 
fence,  or  stockade.  About  twenty  feet  within  the  line  of 
sentinels  was  the  dead-line,  marked  in  the  ordinary  way. 
To  enable  us  to  pick  up  wood  for  cooking,  a  loop  guard 
was  thrown  out  into  the  woods  ;  but  when  all  their  forces 
were  needed  to  oppose  Gen'l  Sherman,  a  daily  parole  of  pris 
oners  was  substituted  for  the  purpose.  If  water  was  wanted, 
you  must  await  your  turn  at  the  guard  line,  and  there 
stand  until  the  return  of  the  one  who  preceded  you.  Es 
capes  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence,  and  how  to  prevent 
them  seemed  more  of  a  problem  than  the  Johnnies  could 
solve.  If  out  with  the  "loop  guard,"  a  little  shrewd  wan 
dering,  loitering  or  dodging  on  the  part  of  prisoners,  would 
often  secure  opportunity  for  escape.  When  paroles  were 
substituted,  the  papers  were  at  first  taken  up  by  the  officer 
of  the  day,  and  instructions  given  the  guard  to  pass  them  at 
will  during  that  day.  Men  not  on  parole  would  take  advan 
tage  of  this  plan  to  convince  the  guard  they  too  were  on 
parole  ;  that  they  had  been  out  before  and  had  given  up 
their  papers,  and,  if  these  succeeded  in  passing  the  guard, 
of  course  they  never  returned. 

A  new  plan  was  then  adopted,  requiring  each  man  to  keep 
his  parole  paper  until  he  had  completed  his  day's  work, 
when  it  was  surrendered.  The  prisoners  would  then  go  out 
once  or  twice,  and  return  their  parole  to  the  officer  of  the 
day  with  the  statement  they  were  through  work.  They 
would  then  collect  food  as  if  intended  for  those  working 
outside,  and  the  sentinel,  ignorant  that  their  parole  had 
been  surrendered,  would  then  pass  them,  and  their  dis 
appearance  would  not  be  known  until  roll-call  the  follow 
ing  morning.  If  the  guard  happened  to  demand  to  see 
their  parole  paper,  any  writing  would  answer,  since  the 


HOW   ESCAPES    WERE   MADE.  421 

guards,  as  a  rule,  were  too  ignorant  to  read.  As  a  last 
•  resort  we  were  taken  out  under  guard,  and  on  reaching 
the  woods,  sentinels  were  placed  around  a  piece  of  woods 
within  which  we  might  gather  fuel.  Bribing  then  became 
the  order  of  the  day  ;  and  as  the  rebel  troops  had  not  been 
paid  for  a  long  time,  a  little  money  would  do  wonders  for 
us.  Fifty  dollars  in  Confederate  scrip  was  sufficient  to  re 
move  the  scruples  of  any  of  the  guards.  Most  of  these 
were  old  men  and  boys,  many  of  whom,  it  is  alleged,  were 
members  of  the  Union  League.  However  much  truth  there 
may  have  been  in  this,  it  is  fact  that  we  were  often  cau 
tioned  as  to  certain  guards,  to  our  great  advantage. 

Of  the  large  number  escaping  from.  Camp  Sorghum,  the 
greater  part  succeeded  in  reaching  our  blockading  squadron. 
Of  this  number  were  Capts.  J.  H.  Nutting,  P.  "W.  McManus, 
and  J.  L.  Skinner,  ai.d  Lieut.  "W.  G.  Davis  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  ;  and  Capt.  James  Belger  of  Belger's 
Battery.  Large  as  was  the  number  of  escapes,  it  would 
have  been  very  much  larger,  but  for  the  low  condition  of  the 
prisoners'  health,  and  their  lack  of  shoes  and  clothing. 
Cold  weather  and  the  penuriousness  and  cold-heartedness  or 
our  keepers  but  added  to  the  discontent,  until  Major  Gris- 
wold,  who  had  succeeded  Capt.  Semple  and  Col.  Means  as 
our  commandant,  posted  the  following  notice  :  — 

"  I  shall  be  very  sorry  to  do  it,  but  unless  this  running  away  is 
stopped,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  open  my  artillery  on  the  camp." 

This  notice  is  in  spirit  so  in  keeping  with  what  we  have 
so  often  had  to  record,  it  seems  hardly  necessary  to  add  that 
Major  Griswold  was  also  from  Maryland.  His  threat  had 
no  perceptible  effect.  Several  officers  were  shot  fatally  dur 
ing  our  confinement  here,  and  each  on  the  most  trivial  pre 
text  ;  and  in  every  instance  the  guard  was  fully  sustained 
without  an  investigation.  Only  one  thing  brightened  our 
hours  of  imprisonment)  and.  that  was  an  occasional  letter 


422  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

from  home,  assuring  us  we  were  not  forgotten  there.  Late 
in  the  fall  a  considerable  quantity  of  clothing  was  received 
through  the  Sanitary  Commission,  but  the  supply  was  so  inade 
quate  to  our  needs,  that  if  a  person  drew  a  pair  of  drawers, 
he  must  dispense  with  pants,  or  if  he  secured  a  shirt  or  vest, 
he  must  do  without  a  coat.  Even  at  this  the  supply  failed 
to  go  round. 

There  had  been  threats  that  if  escapes  continued  to  be 
made,  we  should  be  removed  to  a  stockade,  and,  in  keeping 
with  the  threat,  we  were  removed,  December  llth,  to  Asy 
lum  Prison  near  Columbia.  This  pen  consisted  of  about 
two  acres  of  the  Columbia  Insane  Asylum  grounds,  from 
which  it  was  separated  by  a  twelve-foot  board  fence,  high 
brick  walls  forming  the  other  sides  of  the  enclosure.  Two 
small  buildings  and  the  frame  of  another  comprised  all  the 
shelter  afforded,  and  these  were  hardly  sufficient  for  hospital 
purposes.  During  the  two  months  following  our  arrival,  we 
succeeded  in  constructing  thirteen  other  buildings  each  capa 
ble  of  sheltering  thirty-six  persons.  By  the  use  of  old  tents 
and  holes  in  the  ground,  and  by  crawling  under  the  buildings, 
about  one-half  our  number  secured  shelter.  What  the 
sufferings  of  the  prisoners  must  have  been  during  the 
months  of  December  and  January,  with  inadequate  food, 
clothing  and  shelter,  is  more  easily  imagined  than  described. 
Our  rations  were  less  in  quantity,  and  poorer  in  quality. 
Five  days'  rations  consisted  of  five  pints  of  corn  and  cob 
meal,  two  table-spoonfuls  of  rice,  two  of  salt,  and  five  gills 
of  sorghum.  Variety  was  insured  by  inversion,  hot  mush 
and  sorghum  for  breakfast,  cold  mush  and  sorghum  for  din 
ner,  and  if  anything  happened  to  be  left  over  (a  rare  occur 
rence),  it  was  sorghum  and  cold  mush  for  supper. 

Money  sent  from  home  was  held  by  the  rebel  quartermas 
ter,  and  the  envelope,  with  the  amount  received  endorsed 
upon  it,  forwarded  to  the  owner.  This  was  credited  to  us  at 
government  rates,  thirty-three  dollars  in  Confederate  money 


HOW    WE    GOT   MONEY    AND    NEWS.  423 

for  one  in  gold,  twenty-seven  for  silver,  and  three  and  a  half 
for  greenbacks.  Had  it  been  turned  over  to  us,  we  could 
have  secured  about  a  third  more  as  the  current  rate  of  ex 
change.  When  we  needed  anything  we  were  permitted  to 
draw  on  the  quartermaster,  payable  to  the  order  of  the  rebel 
sutler,  and  a  due-bill  from  the  sutler  was  given  for  any  sur 
plus  not  used.  When  short  of  funds,  many  of  the  prisoners 
drew  bills  of  exchange  upon  parties  at  the  North,  and  sold 
them  at  ruinous  discount.  These  were  forwarded  by  "block 
ade-runners,"  to  England,  and  in  about  two  months  they 
would  be  presented  to  the  prisoner's  friends  for  payment. 

To  relieve  the  ennui  of  prison  life,  stringed  instruments 
were  obtained  while  at  Charleston,  and  an  orchestra  formed, 
which  not  only  proved  of  great  benefit  to  our  men,  but  drew 
considerable  crowds  of  Secesh  to  hear  the  Yankee  musicians. 

The  utmost  care  was  used  to  prevent  our  obtaining  cur 
rent  news,  but  by  the  favor  of  a  colored  man  who  had  daily 
duty  in  the  camp,  we  received  frequent  information  from  out 
side.  Sherman's  masterly  advance  was  the  great  theme  from 
which  we  drew  sufficient  inspiration  and  hope  to  sustain  our 
waning  strength.  The  press  was  under  a  close  surveillance, 
and  we  were  as  often  convinced  of  the  success  and  progress 
of  our  arms,  by  what  the  papers  did  not  contain,  as  by  what 
they  did.  From  the  10th  to  the  12th  of  February,  1865, 
our  surmises  were  strengthened  by  the  distant  peal  of  guns 
and  the  hurried,  anxious  appearance  and  movements  of  our 
enemy. 

The  13th  the  entire  camp  was  ordered  removed,  and  the 
morning  of  the  14th  most  of  the  prisoners  were  en  route  to 
Charlotte,  N.  C.  So  confident  were  we  of  Gen'l  Sherman's 
nearness,  that  every  imaginable  way  was  contrived  to  secrete 
ourselves.  Many  buried  themselves  in  holes  in  the  ground, 
crawled  under  buildings,  hid  back  of  wainscoting,  under 
floors  and  roofs,  but  most  were  found  and  hastened  on  to 
Charlotte,  N.  C.  A  cold,  driving  sleet  fell  during  our  jour- 


424  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ney,  which  benumbed  the  guard  and  forced  them  into  the 
cars  with  the  prisoners.  The  cars  were  old  and  rickety, 
two  of  them  breaking  down  by  the  way,  while  six  others 
broke  loose  and  were  not  missed  until  the  head  of  the 
train  arrived  at  a  station  five  miles  distant.  We  ar 
rived  at  Charlotte  at  four  P.M.  the  15th  inst.,  and 
marched  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  "Camp  Necessity." 
Capt.  Stewart,  the  commandant,  told  us,  with  seeming 
candor,  that  we  had  been  brought  here  for  exchange. 
We  had  unbounded  confidence  that  we  were  to  be  liber 
ated  through  Gen'l  Sherman's  forces,  but  the  exchange 
story  had  become  too  stale  for  credence.  February 
19th  the  camp  was  again  on  the  wing,  this  time  to  Green- 
boro,  N.  C.,  at  which  place  Lieut.  J.  H.  Judd  made 
good  his  escape  and  secreted  himself  under  care  of  a  Union 
man  until  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  forces.  He  was  with 
Sherman's  army  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  reaching  Golds- 
boro,  N.  C.,  March  22,  1865,  the  day  after  its  occupation 
by  our  forces  under  Gen'l  Schofield. 

This  escapade  left  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Kegt. 
only  Capt.  Swift  and  Lieut.  Justus  Lyman  in  the  hands  of 
the  enemy,  five  of  the  nine  captured  having  escaped  and 
two  having  been  exchanged.  Capt.  Swift  and  Lieut.  Lyman, 
with  other  prisoners,  were  moved  through  Raleigh  to  Golds- 
boro,  from  which  place  they  went  by  railroad  to  Wilming 
ton — then  in  Union  hands — and  were  exchanged  about  the 
first  of  March. 


A    STAMPEDE    OF    OFFICERS.  425 


ESCAPE    OF    CAPTS.    J.    H.    NUTTING,    P.    W.    McMANUS 
AJS'D   LIEUT.    "W.    G.    DAVIS. 

BY    CAPT.    PARK   W.    MCMANUS. 

There  was  no  end  to  plans  of  escape,  but,  owing  to  the  vigilance  of  the 
guard,  or  the  many  miles  of  hostile  country  between  us  and  a  place  of 
safety,  few  were  carried  out.  A  short  time  previous  to  the  escape  here 
narrated,  we  arranged  with  the  guard  to  pass  ten  of  us  over  his  beat  for 
three  hundred  dollars  Confederate  money.  Our  plan  was  to  pass  out 
singly,  under  cover  of  darkness,  and  to  rendezvous  at  a  dead  tree  in  plain 
sight  of  our  camp;  a  place  easily  found  at  night.  We  knew  just  when 
the  guard  went  on,  and  where  his  beat  was,  to  a  foot.  The  night  selected 
was  fearfully  dark  and  stormy,  with  considerable  lightning;  and  just  as 
the  two  who  bore  the  money  reached  the  "dead-line,"  a  flash  revealed 
them  to  the  next  guard,  who  fired,  killing  one  and  wounding  the  other. 

A  few  clays  later,  our  second  plan  was  perfected  and  put  into  success 
ful  operation.  To  enable  us  to  get  wood  for  cooking  and  warmth,  it  was 
at  first  customary  to  throw  out  a  loop-guard  into  the  timber ;  but  when 
"  Sherman's  march  to  the  sea"  made  it  necessary  to  dispatch  every  avail 
able  man  to  oppose  him,  they  substituted  a  daily  parole.  By  this,  a  cer 
tain  number  were  permitted  to  go  into  the  timber  and  bring  to  the  guard 
line  such  fuel  as  was  needed,  which  those  within  would  receive  and  carry 
to  our  quarters.  In  this  way  the  lines  within  and  without  were  con 
stantly  meeting,  and  when  the  tired  men  outside  would  sit  down  on  the 
wood  to  rest,  the  anxious  ones  within  would  sit  down  with  them  also. 
When  rested,  each  would  go  their  way,  with  occasional  exceptions,  when 
some  one  within  would  go  out  with  the  paroled  and  neglect  to  return. 

In  this  way,  on  the  27th  of  November,  1864,  a  part  of  our  ten  escaped, 
and  on  the  29th  inst.  the  remainder,  including  Capt.  J.  H.  Nutting  and 
Lieuts.  J.  L.  Skinner  and  W.  G.  Davis  walked  out  from  the  woodpile.  In 
my  anxiety  for  the  inner  man,  I  had  gone  back  to  my  shanty  to  arrange 
with  Lieut.  Justus  Lyman  to  have  my  overcoat  sent  out  with  some  bread 
rolled  in  it.  When  I  returned  I  found  the  paroled  had  left  for  the  woods, 
and  my  chance  gone,  unless  I  put  on  a  bold  front  and  risked  being  de 
tected.  Dodging  behind  rny  shanty,  I  took  off  my  coat  and  placed  it  on 
my  shoulders  as  an  apparent  protection  from  bruising  in  carrying  wood, 
and,  picking  iny  teeth  as  though  just  from  dinner,  walked  one  hundred 
yards  to  the  guard  line.  As  I  crossed  the  line  the  guard  approached  (I 
supposed  to  stop  me),  and  my  heart  sank  to  my  shoes,  but  rose  as  the 
guard  remarked,  "It's  warm  weather  now,  an  you  uns  don't  need  so 
much  wood."  I  did  not  stop  to  discuss  the  matter,  but  simply  said,  "  We 
are  getting  enough  to  last  us  two  or  three  weeks,"  and  continued  my 
walk  to  the  timber.  This  venture,  with  its  pos.sibilities,  was  not  reassur- 


426  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    KEGIMENT. 

ing  to  one's  nerves,  and  produced  such  a  pallor  as  to  lead  Capt.  Nutting, 
the  first  one  I  met,  to  inquire  if  I  was  sick.  I  made  several  trips  with 
wood  and  rails,  before  my  coat,  which  I  had  sent  in  with  some  fine  large 
chips,  was  returned  to  me  by  Lieut.  Lyman.  I  cannot  say  what  became 
of  those  chips  as  I  lost  all  interest  in  them  when  I  discovered  five  loaves 
of  bread  in  the  coat.  It  was  reported  (with  how  much  truth  I  cannot 
say)  that  some  of  the  guard  belonged  to  the  "Union  League,"  though 
they  cautioned  more  than  one  of  us  whom  to  trust  or  shun.  As  I  was 
leaving  I  overheard  one  of  the  guard  exclaim,  "  Lord  !  just  see  them  uns 
getting  away!  I'se  don't  care  if  dey  don't  get  over  my  beat;  dey  has  a 
right  hard  time  of  it." 

A  captain  of  the  Seventh  Conn.,  whose  experience  and  information, 
obtained  in  a  former  attempt  at  escape,  was  considered  valuable,  was 
chosen  leader,  and  we  looked  to  him  as  our  Moses  to  guide  us  through  the 
wilderness.  Before  night,  we  came  across  Lieut.  Davis,  with  a  Lieut. 
J.  B.  Smith  of  the  Fifth  West  Virginia  Cavalry,  whose  boyish  appearance 
and  helplessness  appealed  to  our  sympathy,  for  he  declared  his  purpose 
of  returning  to  prison  if  he  could  not  join  our  company.  At  dark,  we 
gathered  at  the  tree  designated,  where,  to  our  surprise,  we  found  Nutting, 
Skinner,  "  Seventh  Conn.,"  and  about  twenty  others.  Our  ten  "  was  told 
off,"  and  the  others  informed  they  must  look  out  for  themselves.  Expla 
nations  were  useless,  and,  seeing  their  determination  to  remain  with  us,  I 
asked  Capt.  Nutting  if  we  could  not  "  paddle  our  own  canoe,"  certain  he 
would  not  require  me  to  repeat  the  question.  Nutting,  Davis,  Smith,  and 
myself,  consequently  dropped  out,  and  took  our  fortunes  into  our  own 
hands. 

Soon  after  separating,  we  were  impressed,  by  the  barking  of  dogs,  with 
the  necessity  of  avoiding  all  traces  of  civilization,  and  so  we  shunned 
roads  and  plantations,  until  twenty  miles  from  Columbia.  Our  line  of 
escape  lay  south  of  the  Congaree  River.  The  first  night  out  was  clear, 
and,  guided  by  the  "  north  star,"  we  made  some  fifteen  miles,  keeping 
some  two  miles  from  the  Charleston,  or  State  road.  About  midnight  the 
second  night  we  made  bold  to  take  the  road,  keeping  within  the  shade  of  the 
forests  as  much  as  possible.  Desiring  to  eke  out  our  supply  of  food,  we 
entered  a  plantation  towards  morning,  and,  of  course,  made  direct  for  the 
negroes'  quarters.  Seeing  a  light  in  one  of  the  cabins,  we  cautiously 
crept  to  the  window,  and,  to  our  surprise,  saw  Lieut.  Skinner,  with  Major 
Jenkins  and  Capt.  McDonald,  of  the  Fortieth  Mass.,  with  one  other,  all 
of  whom  we  had  imagined  drifting  leisurely  down  the  river.  We  entered 
without  invitation  or  formality,  seriously  disturbing  their  serenity,  with 
visions  of  blood-hounds,  recapture,  and  prison-fare,  before  they  so  far  re 
covered  as  to  recognize  us.  After  an  hour's  rest  and  interchange  of 
experience,  and  the  purchase  by  each  party  of  a  loaf  of  corn-bread  from 
the  darkey  woman,  we  separated.  We  passed  each  other  two  or  three 
times, —  as  we  found  after  reaching  our  lines,  —  at  one  time  suspecting  we 


CAPT.    NUTTING    GETS    SOLICITOUS.  427 

were  near  them  from  the  peculiar  odor  of  the  tobacco  with  which  they 
were  regaling  themselves. 

We  now  used  the  road  constantly,  except  to  hide  during  the  day,  or  to 
forage.  The  darkeys  were  always  kind,  preferring  to  give  us  of  their 
scant}7  stores,  but  they  were  so  destitute  that,  with  a  little  urgency,  they 
would  take  money,  as  this  was  even  more  scarce  than  provisions.  If  the 
information  given  us  was  not  always  reliable,  it  was  from  their  lack  of 
comprehension  and  ignorance  of  distances.  To  a  certain  "cross-road" 
it  was  "  two  good  looks,  and  a  right  smart  chance,"  meaning  it  was  some 
distance  beyond  a  second  curve  in  the  road.  Fortunately,  before  leaving 
Columbia,  we  had  obtained  a  traced  copy  of  a  map  of  the  surrounding 
country,  with  all  important  roads,  which  we  studied  thoroughly  while 
resting  each  day.  After  travelling  several  nights,  we  became  foot-sore 
and  weak  from  exposure  and  insufficient  food,  and  therefore  determined 
to  get  to  the  river,  and,  if  possible,  secure  a  boat. 

Reaching  "Monk's  Corner,"  and  crossing  the  railroad,  we  turned 
towards  the  Santee  River,  and  had  gone  about  three  miles  beyond  the 
McClellansville  road,  when  we  were  advised  by  the  negroes  to  change  our 
course,  as  the  road  was  bad,  and  we  were  already  wet  to  the  knees. 
Near  morning,  we  were  startled  by  the  growl  of  a  dog  close  to  us,  and 
more  so  by  hearing  some  one  saying  to  him  "  Keep  still !  "  when  we  saw 
a  man  near  by,  sitting  upon  a  fence.  Capt.  Nutting  was  in  advance  that 
night  as  leader,  and  lie  walked  directly  towards  the  "  man  and  brother." 
The  sti'anger  suddenly  keeled  backwards  over  the  fence,  saying,  "  U  uns 
don't  hurt  me ;  I'se  no  hurt  you !  "  Both  parties  were  soon  assured  of 
safety,  when  the  negro  told  us  there  was  a  "picket-post"  at  the  river 
near  all  crossings,  and  offered  to  secrete  and  feed  us  at  the  plantation,  and 
at  night  start  us  on  the  direct  road.  He  told  us,  also,  that  our  gunboats 
were  near  McClellansville,  on  blockade-duty,  and  that  he  had  helped  a 
number  to  escape  to  them,  and  would  be  glad  to  aid  us.  At  ten  o'clock  he 
brought  us  some  buttermilk,  and  a  nameless  mixture  of  food,  but  which 
disappeared  with  as  much  relish  as  a  Delmonico  bill  of  fare  before  an  epicure. 

During  the  evening  we  were  taken  into  a  cabin,  where  our  colored 
friends  furnished  us  with  a  bountiful  supply  of  corn-bread,  and  sent  us 
forth  with  a  guide,  and  their  hearty  "  God  bless  you,  massas."  Our 
guide  led  us  through  the  woods  to  the  McClellansville  road,  and  escorted 
us  two  or  three  miles  thereon  before  leaving  us,  proving  to  be  one  of  the 
most  intelligent  colored  men  I  ever  met.  From  this  time  until  reaching 
McClellansville,  we  kept  the  main  road,  sometimes  with  little,  often  with 
nothing  to  eat ;  and  such  supplies  as  we  had,  were  obtained  at  such  risk, 
that  Capt.  Nutting  declared,  Davis'  nose  or  my  appetite  would  be  the  ruin 
of  us.  Lieut.  Davis  was  suffering  from  a  terrible  catarrh,  and  were  it  not 
for  my  appetite  which  impelled  me  to  run  any  risk  to  obtain  provisions, 
we  should  have  gone  hungry  much  oftener  than  we  did.  Parties  often 
passed  on  horseback  so  close  that  we  might  have  touched  them  with  sticks 
from  our  hiding-place. 


428  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  night  we  were  to  pass  through  Pineville  was  very  dark,  and  we 
were  using  extra  care,  but  before  we  were  aware  of  being  near  the  town, 
AVC  ran  against  a  house,  and  in  attempting  to  retrace  our  steps,  found 
fences  and  barns  in  all  directions.  Trees,  known  as  the  "  Needle  Pines," 
were  standing  thickly  around  the  houses,  and  these  made  the  darkness  very 
intense,  while  the  soft  leaves  were  so  thick  upon  the  ground  as  to  render 
it  impossible  to  discover  the  road.  We  succeeded  in  extricating  our 
selves,  and  in  finding  a  hiding-place,  just  at  daylight.  A  heavy,  incessant 
rain  lasted  the  entire  day,  and  we  gladly  welcomed  the  darkness  which 
permitted  us  to  resume  our  journey. 

We  arrived  at  McClellansville  at  nine  o'clock  P.M.,  December  12th,  tired, 
hungry,  anxious  and  bewildered,  and  sought  the  hospitable  shelter  of  the 
negro  quarters,  where  all  our  wants  were  supplied,  and  the  glad  informa 
tion  given  that  one  of  our  blockaders  was  just  outside  of  Cape  Romain 
lighthouse.  After  much  trouble,  one  of  the  colored  friends  remembered 
seeing  a  boat  under  a  building  upon  an  island  which  could  be  reached  by  a 
foot  bridge.  On  arrival  there,  we  found  two  boats  and  a  canoe,  which  we 
tested  in  the  water,  only  to  find  them  unreliable.  Selecting  a  metallic  life 
boat,  we  tore  the  linings  from  our  clothes  to  stop  the  leaks,  and  over  this 
calking  rubbed  some  hard  soap,  a  small  piece  of  which  we  happened  to 
have.  This,  in  salt  water,  acts  very  much  like  tar,  and  answered  the  pur 
pose  admirably.  The  building  had  formerly  been  used  as  a  hospital,  and 
we  fortunately  found  a  piece  of  rope,  a  jug  which  would  hold  water,  and 
part  of  an  old  bunk  which  answered  for  oars.  With  equal  care  in  launch 
ing  and  boarding,  we  found  by  energetic  bailing  we  could  keep  afloat. 

The  night  was  dark  and  cloudy,  and  the  tide,  now  at  full  height,  formed 
innumerable  channels  and  islands  among  the  reeds,  which,  without  light 
or  compass,  soon  bewildered  us.,  and  forced  us  to  lay  by,  and  to  hold  on 
to  the  reeds  for  anchor.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents,  making  the  bailing 
onerous,  and  success  more  doubtful.  The  clouds  dispersed  with  the 
morning  light,  when  we  found  ourselves  in  full  view  of  McClellansville, 
with  Romain  lighthouse  in  the  distance,  for  the  latter  of  which  we  rowed 
as  quickly  as  possible,  and  with  a  favorable  tide,  reached  it  in  an  hour  and 
a  half.  Mounting  the  deserted  lighthouse,  we  scanned  the  horizon  to 
catch  sight  of  some  friendly  vessel,  but  at  most  could  discern  what  we 
imagined  might  be  the  "  topmast ''  of  a  schooner.  What  must  be  its  dis 
tance,  even  if  our  imagination  was  true?  Between  us  was  a  long  succes 
sion  of  surging,  clashing  "  breakers,"  whose  "  white  caps"  warned  us  of  a 
"  dead-line  "  our  frail  craft  must  not  venture  to  cross.  Drenched  to  the 
skin,  we  built  our  first  fire  since  leaving  prison,  in  the  fire-place  of  that 
deserted  house  and  fully  enjoyed  its  cheer.  A  few  oysters,  which  we 
found  near  the  landing,  was  all  the  addition  we  could  make  to  our  larder, 
though  we  chased  a  cat,  which  had  been  left  here  until  wild,  and  which 
we  would  have  roasted,  had  it  not  been  too  fleet-footed  for  us.  For  two 
clays  we  enjoyed  ourselves  as  well  as  the  low  condition  of  our  supplies, 


NOT  ANXIOUS  FOR  AN  ACQUAINTANCE.        429 

and  the  disappointment  at  the  non-appearance  of  our  gunboats  would 
permit. 

At  length,  hungry  and  discouraged,  we  were  forced  to  decide  to  return 
to  the  mainland  for  supplies,  which  we  did  after  inscribing  upon  the  walls 
our  names  and  some  doleful  comments  upon  disappointed  hopes.  After 
considerable  difficulty,  we  succeeded  in  landing  near  a  plantation,  and 
Smith  and  myself  advanced  as  skirmishers  to  reconnoitre.  A  negro  cut 
ting  wood  was  talking  with  a  white  man,  who  inquired  if  he  had  seen  some 
men  prowling  around.  Being  answered  affirmatively,  we  concluded  our 
room  was  better  than  our  company,  and  retired  to  enter  the  plantation 
from  another  direction.  To  our  inquiries  the  negroes  responded,  "  De  ole 
man  Dupree,  him's  at  home,"  but  we  assured  them  we  were  not  over-anx 
ious  for  his  acquaintance ;  we  would  like  something  to  eat.  Hearing  foot 
steps,  we  turned,  and  beheld  the  veritable  "  Dupree  "  with  a  double-barrel 
gun,  close  upon  us.  He  advanced,  and  gave  us  the  chilling  salutation, 
"  Who  are  you?  "  Smith  pluckily  replied,  "  None  of  your  business  !  "  To 
all  his  inquiries  we  returned  evasive  answers,  I  attempting,  meanwhile, 
to  get  near  enough  to  use  my  hickory  stick,  and  get  possession  of  his  gun. 
It  was  evident,  however,  he  was  more  frightened  than  we. 

Informing  him  we  were  from  Wilmington,  en  route  to  Charleston,  he 
led  us  to  the  gate,  and  gave  us  explicit  directions,  for  which  we  thanked 
him  and  gladly  left,  though  we  knew  he  must  have  known  us  by  our  uni 
form,  and  lack  of  southern  brogue.  We  soon  met  a  darkey,  who  said, 
"  Ise  know  who  you  uns  is !  you's  'scaped  prisoners  1 "  and,  as  he  was  on 
his  way  to  see  "  Dinah  on  de  nex'  plantation,"  he  would  see  we  got  some 
thing  to  eat,  and  a  guide.  The  omniprevalent  Dupree  (who,  by  the  way, 
was  a  minister)  again  appeared,  and  ordered  the  darkey  back,  but  the  lat 
ter  soon  returned,  and  apprised  us  of  his  master's  intention  of  informing 
the  officials  at  McClellansville  of  our  presence.  At  the  next  plantation 
our  wants  were  fully  supplied,  and  after  an  hour's  rest,  we  started  under 
two  negro  guides  for  the  Santee.  Both  guides  remained  with  us  until  we 
were  well  on  our  way  to  the  ferry,  where  we  arrived  just  before  day 
light. 

With  considerable  effort,  we  found  the  colored  ferryman,  who  gave  us 
information  that  his  master  had  received  notice  to  look  out  for  four  es 
caped  prisoners  who  had  been  in  McClellansville,  and  coaxed  off  some 
slaves;  and  also,  that  there  was  a  steamer  at  South  Island,  which  place 
we  could  easily  reach  in  one  night.  Oar  money  was  all  gone.  The  only 
article  of  value  remaining,  was  Capt.  Nutting's  watch,  which  was  offered 
the  negro  if  he  would  ferry  us  across  both  streams.  The  river  here  was 
divided  into  two  channels  by  an  island,  a  canal  through  the  latter  con 
necting  the  streams.  We  were  suspicious  of  our  man  and  watched  him 
closely  during  the  day,  but  whatever  his  inclination,  he  hid  and  fed  us 
well,  and  at  eight  o'clock  escorted  us  to  the  ferry.  A  second  hand,  who 
was  to  help,  refused  to  move  unless  some  settlement  was  made  with  him, 


430  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

as  the  watch  could  not  be  divided  or  sold  without  suspicion.  I  compro 
mised  with  him  by  giving  him  my  vest,  which  was  new  when  captured, 
and  we  were  soon  across  the  streams,  and  piloted  beyond  the  cabin  of  the 
opposite  ferryman  and  his  drove  of  dogs. 

The  guides  informed  us  we  were  now  on  the  direct  road,  eight  miles 
distant  from  the  island,  with  no  pickets  before  us,  and  at  low  tide,  could 
cross  to  the  island,  without  wetting  our  feet,  all  of  which  proved  incor 
rect.  We  were  moving  along  listlessly  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when,  hearing  a  sound  as  of  a  horse  chewing,  we  discovered  three  horses 
tethered  near  by,  and  a  tent  not  fifty  feet  distant.  We  went  back 
a  short  distance  to  cover,  and  concluded  to  flank  the  post,  but  find 
ing  a  deep  creek  across  our  path,  decided  we  must  have  got  upon  a  wrong 
road,  and  hence  returned  to  the  timber  land.  During  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day,  we  found  a  negro  at  a  deserted  plantation,  and  learned  we  were 
right  before  we  retraced  our  steps ;  that  the  picket  station  had  been  there 
for  several  months;  and  that  to  reach  the  desired  island,  we  must  swim. 
We  made  our  way  back  to  the  causeway,  and  from  our  hiding-place,  saw 
the  pickets  as  they  returned  from  watering  their  horses. 

About  midnight  we  started  across  the  swamp,  well  to  the  right  of  the 
"  picket-post,"  knowing  they  were  awake,  as  we  could  hear  them.  When 
nearly  opposite  them,  we  heard  them  speak  —  then  a  Cap  snapped  — 
and,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  replaced,  a  ball  went  whizzing  over  our  heads. 
We  remained  quiet  half  an  hour,  then  moved  on  some  distance,  crossed 
the  creek  from  which  we  turned  back  the  night  previous,  soon  reached  the 
road,  and  shortly  after,  arrived  at  the  creek  separating  us  from  the  island. 
Securing  some  planks  —  remnants  of  a  former  bridge  which  spanned  the 
stream  —  we  sat  down  to  get  our  courage  up  for  a  December  bath,  and  to 
eat  our  last  meal  in  "  Secessia."  My  repast  consisted  of  two  table-spoons 
ful  of  dry  rice,  fresh  picked  to  be  sure,  but  of  sufficient  hardness  to  keep 
my  jaws  from  rusting.  Stripping  ourselves  for  the  fray,  Nutting  and 
Davis  crossed  first,  with  their  clothes  kept  above  water  by  their  weight 
on  the  other  end  of  the  plank.  When  across,  they  pushed  the  planks 
back  to  us.  Smith  could  not  swim,  and  I  took  him  on  the  plank  with  me, 
but  no  sooner  had  we  gone  beyond  his  depth,  than  he  began  floundering 
and  shuddering,  until  he  arrived  at  the  forward  end  of  the  plank.  The 
moment  he  touched  bottom,  he  sprang  from  the  plank,  sending  me  back 
into  the  middle  of  the  stream  to  ruminate  over  the  pleasure  of  a  midwin 
ter  bath. 

Regaining  the  shore,  and  putting  on  my  drenched  clothing,  we  struck 
into  a  double-quick  to  start  our  chilled  circulation,  and  left  behind  us  the 
dangerous  neighbors  of  yore.  In  half  an  hour,  we  found  ourselves  at  the 
seaward  side  of  the  island,  facing  Winyaw  Bay,  and  our  eyes  were  regaled 
by  the  sight  of  one  of  our  gunboats  four  miles  distant,  with  the  stars  and 
stripes  unfurled  to  the  breeze.  The  island  had  been  a  sea-resort  for 
wealthy  planters,  and  several  houses  yet  remained,  on  the  top  of  one  of 


UNDER    THE    STARS    AND    STRIPES    AGAIN.  431 

which,  we  fastened  a  pole,  and  to  it  such  rags  as  we  could  spare,  to  at 
tract  attention.  Just  at  this  time,  a  boat  full  of  men  emerged  from  a 
point  across  the  bay,  and  bore  directly  for  us.  Who  they  were  was  a  vital 
question,  but  at  last  our  strained  eyes  detected  a  small  flag  at  its  stern, 
the  nationality  of  which  could  never  be  mistaken.  It  was  a  man-of-war 
launch  which  had  been  on  picket  duty,  and  as  they  came  near  shore, 
hailed  us  with,  "  Who's  there?"  We  did  not  wait  to  answer,  but  rushed 
into  the  water  waist  deep,  from  which  we  never  knew  nor  cared  how  we 
Avere  taken.  I  doubt  if  any  one  could  describe  the  feelings  of  such  an 
hour:  suspense,  enemies,  dangers,  privations  and  captivity,  had  given 
place  to  blissful  security,  civilization  and  comforts,  with  visions  of  home 
and  friends. 

Our  famished  look  told  its  own  story,  and  a  bag  of  hard-tack  put  to 
flight  all  emotional  feelings  or  restraints,  the  inner  man  asserting  itself 
in  a  combined  attack  upon  the  hard-tack.  At  nine  o'clock,  the  loth  of 
December,  1864,  we  were  welcomed  on  board  the  United  States  steamer 
"JSipsic,"  cheerful,  happy,  and  covered  with  "gray-backs."  Here  we 
found  Lieut.  Skinner  and  his  party,  who  had  drifted  clown  the  Santee, 
arriving  only  the  day  before  us.  On  the  arrival  of  the  "Nipsic"  at 
Charleston  we  were  placed  on  board  the  steamer  "Massachusetts"  for 
Hilton  Head,  where  we  were  trusted  for  new  suits  throughout,  and  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  those  we  had  shed  carried  off  with  a  pair  of  tongs. 
December  2Gth,  we  left  on  the  steamer  "  Arago,"  and  reached  Norfolk, 
Jan.  1,  1805,  where  we  received  our  pay  to  date.  The  morning  I  arrived 
upon  the  steamer  "  Nipsic  "  I  weighed  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  pounds, 
while  two  months  later  I  weighed  two  hundred  and  three  pounds,  and  at 
that  was  considered  only  "in  fair  flesh." 

I  cannot  close  this  narrative  without  acknowledging  the  debt  of  grati 
tude  we  owe  the  colored  people  along  our  route,  for  food,  information, 
and  guides.  They  willingly  gave  what  they  had,  asking  for  no  return; 
but  in  simple  faith  plead  with  us  to  hasten  the  freedom  for  which  they 
had  so  long  been  praying.  Their  self-sacrifice,  deserves  all  the  blessings 
which  they  have  secured  through  the  triumph  of  our  arms. 

ESCAPE  OF  SERGI.  BARTHOLOMEW  O'CONNELL,  CORP.  LEVI 

BRIZZEE,  AND  PRIVATE  GEORGE  W.  TAYLOR. 
This  trio  of  comrades  have  all  passed  earth's  trials  and 
reached  their  reward.  Sergt.  O'Connell  enlisted  from 
Whately,  Sept.  28,  1861,  and  re-enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863. 
He  was  made  corporal  at  the  beginning  of  service,  and  re 
ceived  successive  promotions  until  orderly  sergeant  of  his 
company.  At  the  battle  of  South- West  Creek,  March  8, 


432  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

1865,  he  was  in  command  of  Company  A,  and  fell  mortally 
wounded  while  the  regiment  was  singly,  }ret  gallantly  hold 
ing  Hoke's  Division  at  bay.  Corp.  Brizzee  enlisted  from 
Montague,  Oct.  1,  1861,  re-enlisted  Dec.  24,  1863,  and 
served  creditably  with  his  regiment  until  his  capture  at 
Drewry's  Bluff.  After  his  escape  here  narrated,  he  rejoined 
his  company  and  was  recaptured  March  8,  1865,  and  held 
as  a  prisoner  one  month.  He  was  a  fearless  soldier,  with 
more  than  ordinary  power  of  endurance,  but  survived  his 
last  imprisonment  only  a  few  days.  He  died  at  his  home  in 
Northfield,  April  15,  1865.  Private  Taylor  enlisted  from 
Somerset,  Feb.  25,  1864.  Though  his  active  service  in  the 
field  covered  less  than  two  weeks,  he  had  shown  the  courage 
and  dash  of  a  veteran.  His  fate,  like  that  of  thousands  of 
noble  men  who  fell,  is  the  simple  tale,  "  unknown."  We 
have  the  following  account  of  their  escape  from  Corp. 
Brizzee,  previous  to  his  decease.  After  giving  testimony 
to  rough  treatment  and  the  filthiness  of  Libby  Prison,  Corp. 
Brizzee  said  : 

At  the  close  of  a  week  the  prisoners  were  taken  through  Banville, 
N.  C.,  Columbia,  S.  C.,  and  Augusta,  towards  Camp  Sumter  at  Ander- 
sonville,  Ga.  Many  had  hoped  to  escape,  while  passing  through  North 
Carolina,  but  found  it  impossible.  Lewis  A.  Drury,  of  Company  C, 
jumped  from  the  cars  near  Salisbury,  but  was  flrcd  upon  by  the  guard 
and  recaptured. 

On  starting  from  Augusta,  Sunday,  May  29th,  O'Connell,  with  his  jack- 
knife,  set  himself  resolutely  at  work  to  cut  a  hole  through  the  floor  of 
the  car.  There  were  some  fifty  men  crowded  into  the  freight  car  and 
this,  together  with  the  care  used  by  our  comrades  to  shield  us  from  the 
view  of  the  three  guards  confined  in  the  car,  enabled  us  by  dark  that 
night  to  cut  an  opening  sufficiently  large  to  effect  escape.  The  probabili 
ties  of  success  were  small,  even  should  we  elude  the  vigilance  of  the 
train  guard,  so  that  but  few  were  willing  to  risk  the  effort.  We  determined 
to  make  an  attempt  at  all  hazard.  At  nine  P.M.,  when  the  train  stopped 
for  wood  and  water,  Taylor  crept  out,  and  O'Connell  and  myself  followed 
at  the  next  stop,  with  the  understanding  we  should  meet  Taylor  near  the 
place  of  his  escape,  and  where  he  was  to  await  us.  No  alarm  was  given 
at  either  place,  and  when  the  train  moved  on,  we  started  back  upon  the 
track.  On  nearing  the  appointed  place  to  meet  Taylor,  we  saw  persons 


THE    FRIENDSHIP    OF    NEGROES.  433 

congregated  there,  when  we  plunged  into  the  woods  far  enough  to  feel 
secure  from  observation,  and  remained  during  the  day.  At  night  we 
wandered  around  the  vicinity,  but  rinding  no  traces  of  Taylor,  moved 
into  the  woods,  guided  by  the  north  star. 

Our  plan  was  to  go  North  by  way  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  some  three  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  and  although  this,  in  an  enemy's  country, 
with  regulation  uniforms,  and  without  rations,  we  knew  to  be  almost  im 
possible  of  accomplishment,  it  seemed  to  be  our  only  hope.  We  travelled 
all  that  night,  and  concealed  ourselves  in  the  woods  till  late  the  following 
afternoon,  when  the  gnawings  of  hunger  led  us  into  the  indiscretion  of 
applying  to  a  neighboring  plantation  for  food.  The  owner  pretended  to 
be  a  Union  man  and  gave  us  a  hearty  meal,  but  must  have  betrayed  us  as 
soon  as  we  left,  for  we  discovered  scouts  guarding  the  roads  in  all  direc 
tions.  In  following  a  stream  that  night  to  find  some  suitable  place  for 
crossing,  we  were  fired  upon,  but  by  plunging  back  into  the  forest,  made 
good  our  escape.  We  soon  found  the  negroes  reliable  friends,  and  threw 
ourselves  entirely  upon  their  honor.  They  would  share  with  us  their  last 
morsel,  cook  supplies  with  which  to  sustain  us  on  the  way,  and  furnish 
guides,  who,  on  leaving  us,  would  give  specific  directions  with  reference 
to  our  journey,  and  where  it  was  safe  to  stop.  For  this  they  would 
receive  no  pay,  but  seemed  only  too  glad  to  help  us. 

During  the  second  day  out,  we  were  discovered  in  a  swamp  by  a  well- 
informed  negro,  who  advised  us  to  change  our  plans  and  attempt  to  reach 
the  sea-coast  near  Savannah,  only  about  one  hundred  miles  distant.  His 
advice  and  directions  were  so  intelligently  given,  that  we  concluded  to 
adopt  his  suggestions,  and  that  night,  with  a  liberal  supply  of  provisions 
furnished  by  him,  we  turned  our  steps  for  Savannah.  We  were  about  ten 
days  in  travelling  this  distance,  following  railroad  tracks  or  county  roads 
as  served  our  purpose  best,  but  sometimes  following  the  course  of  the 
streams,  by  advice  of  negroes.  Only  once  during  this  time  did  we  show 
ourselves  to  a  white  person,  and  then  because  our  colored  friends  had 
nothing  to  give  us.  The  negroes  had  informed  us  there  were  no  men 
around,  and  supplied  us  with  "butternut  suits"  with  which  we  passed 
ourselves  off  as  "  secesh  soldiers."  By  this  means  we  succeeded  in  get 
ting  the  best  the  house  afforded,  the  darkies  grinning  to  "  see  how  missus 
hab  ben  fooled  by  dem  ar  Yanks ! " 

June  9th  we  reached  a  plantation  near  Fort  Jackson,  Savannah,  and  re 
mained  concealed  by  the  negroes  until  Monday,  June  13th.  We  were  then 
piloted  beyond  the  rebel  pickets,  by  a  darkey  belonging  to  the  command 
ing  officer  of  the  fort.  We  crossed  over  to  Dutch  and  Skiddoway  Islands, 
swimming  many  streams  and  inlets,  and  threading  our  way  through 
tangled  forests  and  deep  marshes.  In  the  midst  of  the  latter,  O'Connell 
lost  his  shoes.  The  remainder  of  the  way  was  a  terrible  trial  to  the  poor 
fellow,  lacerating  his  feet  unmercifully,  and  rendering  our  progress  slow 
and  painful.  Two  days  had  passed  since  leaving  the  rebel  pickets,  in 


434          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

which  (being  in  salt  water  marshes  and  lowlands)  we  had  not  had  a  par 
ticle  of  water  to  drink,  and  our  thirst  was  almost  unendurable. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  15th  of  June,  we  discovered  one  of  our  gun 
boats,  but  could  not  draw  its  attention.  During  the  night  we  constructed 
a  raft  from  such  materials  as  we  could  collect  in  the  swamps,  by  binding 
them  together  with  green  withes,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  worked 
our  way  out  upon  Assaband  Sound,  where,  about  the  middle  of  the  after 
noon,  we  were  picked  up  by  a  crew  from  the  gunboat  "  Wiona."  We 
met  with  a  hearty  reception  on  board  from  officers  and  crew,  and  every 
thing  possible  was  done  for  our  comfort.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  19th, 
we  were  carried  by  the  "Unadilla"  to  Port  Koyal,  and  to  the  fleet  off 
Charleston,  where  we  were  received  by  Admiral  Dahlgren  and  warmly 
complimented  for  our  successful  escape.  Transportation  was  here  fur 
nished  to  Philadelphia,  where,  through  the  kindness  of  friends,  we  were 
enabled  to  reach  our  homes  July  1,  1864. 


RETURN  TO  NORTH  CAROLINA.  435 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

RETURN  TO  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

OUR  record  left  a  part  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 
whose  term  of  enlistment  was  yet  unexpired,  on  the  trans 
port  "United  States,"  off  Norfolk,  Va.  Two  hundred  and 
forty-seven  of  the  regiment  were  still  in  captivity,  —  four 
having  been  exchanged  or  escaped ;  while  three  hundred 
and  four  were  reported  for  duty.  Of  those  in  captivity  noth 
ing  definite  could  be  learned,  but  vague  and  startling  rumors 
were  rife  of  their  dire  extremities  and  sufferings.  Sept.  19, 
1864,  the  steamer  "United  States,"  with  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  steamed  for  Beaufort,  N.  C.,  the  regiment  going  into 
camp  at  Carolina  City  the  21st  inst.  under  command  of  Maj. 
John  W.  Moore.  The  Twenty-Third  and  Twenty-Fifth 
Mass.,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey  Regiments,  as  before  stated, 
had  preceded  us  to  this  State,  and  were  stationed  south  of 
the  Trent  River,  and  along  the  railroad  towards  Beaufort ; 
but  the  Star  Brigade  from  this  time  ceased  to  exist.  Only 
such  of  this  brigade  as  had  seen  service  in  North  Caro 
lina  were  ordered  to  return,  but  these,  though  at  times  asso 
ciated  in  action,  held  no  future  organic  connection. 

The  lines  of  this  Department  had  been  considerably  con 
tracted  by  the  capture  of  Plymouth  and  evacuation  of  Wash 
ington  the  previous  spring,  the  troops  being  confined  to 
places  covered  by  the  gunboats.  The  navy  had  been  rein 
forced  by  the  "  Otsego  "  and  "  Chimera,"  and  was  the  real 
reliance  for  defence.  As  left  by  us,  our  position  in  North 


436  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

Carolina  was  a  constant  menace  to  the  enemy,  requiring  a 
large  army  to  defend  threatened  points.  As  found  on  our 
return,  it  was  simply  a  post  of  observation  held  by  the 
feeblest  tenure,  and  liable  to  fall  before  any  determined  as 
sault.  The  elan  of  the  garrison  had  departed,  and  rebel 
iron-clads  seemed  to  be  expected  in  every  direction  ;  even 
down  the  railroad,  and  sailing  across  lots.  There  was  nei 
ther  an  adequate  force  to  man  the  works  in  case  of  an  attack, 
nor  confidence  sufficient  to  inspire  determined  resistance 
against  assault. 

June  1st,  three  torpedoes  constructed  from  pork-barrels, 
containing  two  hundred  pounds  of  powder  each,  were  sent 
by  car  to  Bachelor's  Creek  in  charge  of  Lieut.  Jones  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  New  York,  to  be 
placed  in  the  Neuse  River  to  guard  against  iron-clads 
from  Kinston.  Desiring  to  communicate  with  Col.  Claas- 
sen  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  New  York, 
commanding  this  post,  he  carelessly  left  them  without  a 
guard,  or  warning  any  one  of  their  character.  The 
quartermaster-sergeant  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
Second  New  York  Regt.,  supposing  them  to  be  supplies, 
ordered  them  removed,  and  personally  rolled  the  first  one  to 
the  platform  safely.  The  second  was  pushed  down  the  gang 
plank,  followed  closely  by  the  third.  As  the  second  struck 
the  first  —  now  stationary  on  the  platform — the  blow  broke 
a  hair-spring,  and  the  three  torpedoes  exploded  with  a  con 
cussion  which  startled  the  enemy  at  Kinston,  over  twenty 
miles  distant.  Thirty  were  killed  and  seventeen  wounded 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  New  York  Regt., 
and  ten  killed  and  twenty-three  wounded  of  citizens  and  con 
trabands.  The  log  depot,  twenty  by  thirty,  with  one  hun 
dred  feet  of  platform  and  a  signal  tower  ninety  feet  high, 
were  shivered  to  splinters.  The  remains  of  the  unfortunate 
victims  were  scattered  in  trees  or  upon  the  ground  upwards 
of  half  a  mile.  A  sight  more  awful  or  harrowing  could  not 


A    MILITARY    EXECUTION.  437 

be  imagined.  All  that  was  recognized  of  the  quartermaster- 
sergeant  was  his  little  finger,  known  by  his  ring ;  while  most 
of  the  remains  were  scraped  together  in  infinitesimal  bits  and 
buried  in  "  hard-tack  boxes."  A  platform  car  covered  with 
straw  brought  the  forty  wounded  to  New  Berne,  a  sight  of 
shrivelled,  mangled  humanity,  impossible  to  describe. 

During  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1864,  the  regiments 
of  this  Department  had  been  recruited  by  "  conscripts  "  and 
"bounty  men."  Among  the  latter  were  "professional 
bounty -jumpers,"  who,  having  secured  the  bounty,  availed 
themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  escape.  Many  had  been 
arrested,  and  on  the  morning  of  August  13th,  seven  were  in 
Craven  Street  Jail  under  sentence  of  death.  The  most  des 
perate  one  of  these  deserters  was  shot  that  morning  before 
Fort  Spinola. 

The  next  morning  (Sunday)  the  reveille  awoke  the  camps 
at  the  first  trace  of  dawn,  and  the  Seventeenth  Mass.  Regt. 
gathered  before  the  gaol.  A  "  Special  Order"  required  every 
enlisted  man  in  the  garrison,  not  on  duty  or  excused  by  the 
surgeon,  to  be  present,  and  hence  the  entire  division  was 
formed  on  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square  before  Fort  Totten. 
At  four  o'clock  the  funeral  cortege  moved  down  Craven  and 
through  Pollock  Streets,  headed  by  the  provost  marshal  and 
a  band  with  sepulchral  dirge,  followed  by  the  commanding- 
general  and  his  staff  in  full-dress  uniform.  Each  condemned 
man  was  preceded  by  a  "drum  corps"  -with  muffled  drums, 
a  squad  of  cavalry,  a  platoon  of  infantry,  followed  by  a  cor 
don  or  hollow  square  of  soldiers  with  reversed  arms,  in 
which  an  ambulance  moved,  containing  a  manacled  victim 
sitting  upon  the  end  of  a  plain  pine  box,  his  coffin.  Six 
times  this  mockery  of  funeral  pageant  and  human  woe 
repeated  itself  ere  the  column  was  complete.  The  dirge, 
the  roll  of  muffled  drums,  the  weeping,  haggard,  manacled 
victims,  and  the  plain,  narrow  house,  were  combinations  too 
aggravating  for  weak  nerves,  and  the  author  for  once  dis- 


438  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS   EEGIMENT. 

obeyed  orders  and  declined  to  attend.  When  the  cortege  ar 
rived  at  Fort  Totten  the  condemned  men  were  marched 
around  the  inside  of  the  square,  each  one  preceded  by  four 
soldiers  bearing  a  coffin.  At  the  open  side  of  the  square 
were  six  graves,  and  before  each  a  box  was  deposited,  upon 
the  foot  of  which  a  victim  was  set  with  his  heart  bared  for 
the  fatal  bullet.  A  company  of  the  Seventeenth  Mass.  Regt., 
with  loaded  guns  —  half  ball  and  half  blank  cartridges,  — 
were  brought  forward,  and  as  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  fell 
on  the  scene,  the  fatal  word  was  given.  Three  fell  lifeless, 
and  three  mortally  wounded.  Before  another  detail  two 
more  fell  lifeless,  and  another  in  the  pangs  of  death  ;  and  the 
provost  marshal  (shall  I  say  humanely?)  finished  the  work 
by  a  muzzle  close  to  the  breast  of  the  writhing  man. 

Doubtless  the  fate  of  most  of  these  men  was  just,  but  the 
facts  stated  regarding  one  of  them  deserve  mention.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Ehode  Island  Regt.  who  had  ren 
dered  efficient  service  upward  of  a  year  and  a  half.  In  en 
listing  he  had  overstated  his  age  to  insure  admission  to  the 
army,  and  was  now  but  nineteen  years  old.  His  mother 
being  sick,  and  not  expecting  to  recover,  had  written,  ask 
ing  him  to  come  and  see  her  before  she  died.  His  applica 
tion  for  a  furlough  was  rejected,  and,  as  the  steamer  "  Dud 
ley  Buck"  was  leaving  New  Berne,  he  was  found  in  the  coal 
bunk,  turned  over  to  the  authorities  and  was  condemned  to 
death.  No  friendly  hand  sought  to  save  him,  but  his  fate 
received  the  mute  condemnation  of  every  enlisted  man. 
How  unlike  the  noble  Queen  Victoria  when  the  death  sen 
tence  of  a  "royal  guard"  was  handed  her  for  signature. 
"  Go  and  see  if  you  can  learn  anything  good  of  this  man," 
said  the  merciful  queen.  Twice  the  officer  returned  and 
answered  "  No  I  "  "  Go  once  more,"  said  the  anxious  queen, 
and  this  time  the  officer  returned,  saying,  "  I  learn  nothing 
except  that  he  has  a  family  and  loves  them  ; "  upon  which 
she  took  the  sentence  and  wrote  in  large  letters  across  its 


A  MAN'S  A  MAN  FOR  ALL  THAT.          439 

face,  "PARDONED!"  Whatever  this  boy's  fault,  over 
the  door  of  his  heart  was  inscribed,  '«  Love  for  mother," 
and  this  should  have  entitled  him  to  mercy.  Had  his  case 
been  submitted  to  the  tender-hearted  President  Lincoln, 
doubtless  death  would  have  been  averted.  In  any  case 
death  penalties  should  be  subject  to  review  by  courts  re 
moved  from  the  bias  of  local  interests  or  prejudices,  and 
if  the  findings  admit  of  a  reasonable  doubt,  the  con 
demned  man  should  be  granted  a  hearing  before  another 
tribunal.  So  frequent  became  the  abuse  of  extreme  power 
by  courts-martial  during  the  last  year  of  the  war,  that  Presi 
dent  Lincoln  issued  an  order  that  all  executions  must  be 
approved  by  him. 

There  was  too  much  power  assumed  by  many  general 
officers,  too  many  rights  of  our  enlisted  men  infringed  upon. 
Stern  disciplinarians  and  martinets  may  deride  and  declare 
less  restraint  subversive  of  discipline ;  but  in  a  country 
like  this,  we  cannot  afford  to  follow  the  effete  methods  of 
monarchial  nations  founded  upon  privileged  aristocracies, 
with  ignorant  classes  to  obey  their  beck.  In  the  rank  and 
file  of  our  volunteer  force,  were  men  equal  in  ability,  educa 
tion  and  fitness  to  command,  to  those  whom  wealth,  influence 
or  accident  had  placed  in  authority  over  them .  In  monarchies 
a  commission  in  the  army  is  an  expression  of  the  monarch's 
favor,  often  without  regard  to  fitness  and  ability ;  but  in  re 
publics  the  right  to  its  possession  should  be  demonstrated. 
Vacancies  in  office  were  filled  from  the  ranks  without  loss  of 
effectiveness,  and  the  closing  scenes  of  the  war  were  en 
acted  under  men  who  had  served  as  subalterns  and  privates. 

It  is  but  reasonable  that  officers  and  men  should  be  held 
subject  to  the  same  regulations  and  penalties,  the  right  tore- 
sign  withdrawn,  and  discharges  granted  upon  uniform  terms. 
"  Absence  without  leave  "  with  officers  should  be  designated 
by  the  clear,  incisive  word  "  desertion ,"  as  with  enlisted 
men.  If  the  death  penalty  is  the  only  adequate  remedy  for 


440          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

desertion,  cowardice,  or  sleeping  on  post  with  the  rank  and 
file,  substitute  it  for  dismissal  and  cashiering  for  similar 
offences  with  officers.  If  intoxicants  were  not  good  for 
men,  they  were  tenfold  more  pernicious  and  injurious  for 
those  needing  clear  heads  to  command.  If  houses  of  pros 
titution  should  be  forbidden  resorts  for  enlisted  men,  it  was 
damning  to  make  them  stand  guard  before  them  day  and 
night,  that  none  but  officers  might  enter.  A  commission 
should  insure  implicit  obedience,  but  not  a  single  right  or 
favor  beyond. 

September  5th,  New  Berne  found  itself  attacked  by  a 
force  more  subtile  and  deadly  than  that  of  the  Confederates  ; 
no  less  a  foe  than  yellow  fever  in  its  most  malignant  charac 
ter.  The  first  victim  was  the  stevedore  of  the  harbor,  and 
his  disease  was  credibly  traced  to  clothing  forwarded  from 
New  York,  for  charitable  distribution  amongst  the  city  poor 
and  the  hospitals.  The  unfortunate  city  was  soon  trans 
formed  to  one  vast  hospital  and  morgue,  the  total  number  of 
victims  exceeding  seventeen  hundred.  Col.  T.  J.  C.  Amory 
of  the  Seventeenth  Mass.  Regt.,  Maj.  H.  T.  Lawson,  chief 
provost  marshal,  and  Lieut.  Fordyce  A.  Dyer,  assistant  pro 
vost  marshal,  both  of  the  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery; 
Lieut.  Col.  H.  M.  Stone,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  and  Lieut. 
H.  C.  Hathaway  of  Gen'l  Palmer's  staff,  were  among  those 
who  fell.  Investigation  led  to  the  statement  that  these 

goods  were  obtained  from  Cuba,  by  a  Dr.  Blackburn 

of  New  York  City,  and  were  forwarded  ostensibly  as  a 
charity,  but  really  for  the  work  they  accomplished. 

Fifteen  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 
went  to  New  Berne  as  nurses  and  assistants  during  the  epi 
demic,  of  which  number  Thomas  Frary,  Company  D,  Hat- 
field,  Alonzo  Jockett,  Company  D,  Northampton,  George 
H.  Benedict,  Company  E,  Lee,  and  Joseph  Twenkler,  Com 
pany  I,  Wilbraham,  fell  victims  to  the  scourge.  Men  who 
will  take  their  lives  in  hand  and  go  into  such  a  plague- 


VOLUNTEERS  FOR  HAZARDOUS  BUTT.         441 

stricken  city  to  rescue  their  unfortunate  comrades,  are 
worthy  of  a  lasting  monument.  We  gladly  record  their  noble 
act  as  reflecting  honor  upon  themselves,  the  regiment,  and 
the  State,  and  only  wish  it  were  possible  to  mention  all  by 
name  who  offered  themselves  for  this  humane  work. 

Patrols  were  organized,  districts  assigned,  every  house 
visited  twice  a  day,  new  cases  reported,  and  bodies  removed 
to  the  morgue.  Tar  was  kept  burning  on  every  street 
corner ;  and  the  only  travellers  upon  the  streets  were  the 
patrols  and  the  funeral  cortege,  followed  by  Chaplain  J.  Hill 
Rouse,  a  former  rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Rochdale, 
Mass.  The  untiring  work  of  this  good  old  man  in  affording 
the  consolations  of  religion  to  this  stricken  city,  was  a  silver 
lining  on  the  murky  cloud.  The  death-rate  increased  to  a 
maximum  of  thirty-five  per  day,  and  exceeded  in  percentage 
of  mortality  the  scourge  of  Norfolk,  Va.,  or  the  more  recent 
one  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  The  only  fatal  case  at  the  camp  of 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  was  that  of  Egbert  B.  Strong, 
Company  G,  of  Northampton. 

Comrade  Lafayette  Clapp  of  Company  A,  Easthampton, 
who  had  been  on  hospital  service  at  New  Berne  during  the 
absence  of  the  regiment  in  Virginia,  declined  to  avail  himself 
of  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  September  20th,  and 
magnanimously  remained  during  the  ravages  of  the  pesti 
lence.  At  the  height  of  the  scourge  he  was  detailed  to  assist 
Dr.  J.  W.  Page  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  where  his  large 
experience  and  good  judgment  were  soon  brought  into  use,  in 
the  entire  management  of  the  Commission  during  Dr.  Page's 
illness.  Later  on,  Comrade  Clapp  suffered  a  severe  attack 
of  the  plague,  but,  aided  by  a  good  constitution,  abstemious 
habits,  and  by  the  watchful  care  of  his  numerous  friends, 
he  recovered.  This  self-sacrifice  on  the  part  of  one  with 
a  home  and  family  to  which  he  longed  to  return,  deserves 
honorable  mention.  Comrade  Clapp  has  twice  filled  the 
office  of  president  of  our  Veteran  Association,  and  still 
enjoys  the  high  esteem  of  his  comrades. 


442          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

The  evening  of  October  27th,  Lieut.  W.  B.  Gushing,  U. 
S.  Navy,  and  a  crew  of  thirteen,  ascended  the  Roanoke  River 
on  "Launch  No.  1,"  to  destroy  the  ram  "Albemarle''  at 
Plymouth.  A  mile  below  the  town  they  found  the  channel 
obstructed  by  the  wreck  of  the  steamer  "Southfield"  and 
by  sunken  schooners.  A  guard  of  twenty  rebels  was  cap 
tured  at  this  point,  without  the  firing  of  a  gun.  About  two 
A.M.,  the  morning  of  the  28th,  Lieut.  Gushing  reached  a  po 
sition  opposite  the  ram,  which  he  discovered  to  be  fastened 
to  the  wharf,  surrounded  by  a  line  of  logs,  chained  together 
thirty  feet  from  its  side.  Keeping  close  under  the  shade  of 
the  opposite  banks,  until  he  had  gained  a  point  above,  which 
gave  him  the  favoring  current  of  the  river,  he  turned,  and 
was  bearing  bow-on  to  the  ram,  when  the  enemy  sprung  their 
rattle,  rang  their  bell,  and  commenced  firing  upon  the 
launch.  Lieut.  Gushing  gave  them  two  charges  of  canister, 
and  with  full  steam,  bore  down  with  such  speed  as  to  break 
the  log  obstructions  surrounding  the  "  Albemarle."  Low 
ering  the  boom  of  the  launch,  with  a  suspended  torpedo  at 
tached,  by  a  vigorous  and  dexterous  push,  he  forced  it  under 
the  ram  and  exploded  it. 

With  the  concussion  from  the  torpedo  came  a  dense  flood 
of  water  engulfing  the  deck  of  his  boat ;  and  also  a  plung 
ing  shot  from  the  "  Albemarle,  which  crashed  through  the 
launch.  A  vigorous  musketry  fire  was  now  opened  upon 
Lieut.  Gushing  and  crew,  the  former  twice  refusing  to 
surrender.  Finding  the  launch  fast  sinking,  the  brave  lieu 
tenant  ordered  every  man  to  look  out  for  himself,  threw  off 
his  coat  and  shoes,  jumped  overboard,  and  swam  for  the  op 
posite  shore.  The  launch  sank  within  fifteen  feet  of  the 
wharf,  Lieut.  Gushing  and  a  colored  sailor  only  escaping ; 
the  rest  of  the  crew  were  either  killed,  drowned  or  cap 
tured.  Lieut.  Gushing  succeeded  in  reaching  the  swamp 
opposite,  where  he  secreted  himself  until  the  afternoon. 
The  enemy  were  several  times  within  a  few  feet  of  him  ;  but 


THE    KECAPTURE    OF    PLYMOUTH,    N.    C.  443 

being  buried  to  the  neck  in  water,  and  surrounded  by 
swamp  grass,  he  escaped  detection.  During  the  afternoon, 
he  approached  the  river  near  enough  to  satisfy  himself  that 
he  had  sunk  the  "  Albemarle,"  when  he  made  his  way  to 
Middle  River,  found  a  skiff,  and  reached  the  "  Valley  City" 
at  eleven  o'clock  P.M. 

The  next  day,  Commander  Macomb  made  an  attempt  to 
occupy  Plymouth,  but  was  prevented  by  the  shore  batteries. 
The  30th,  he  decided  to  try  Middle  River  channel,  but  on 
account  of  the  difficulties  of  the  way,  he  failed  to  reach  the 
head  of  the  islands  until  about  four  P.M.  After  shelling  the 
place  with  one-hundred-pound  Parrotts  for  an  hour,  the  fleet 
anchored  until  the  morning  of  the  31st.  After  a  reconnois- 
sance  and  considerable  firing,  the  fleet  was  signalled,  at  9.30 
A.  M.,  "  Go  ahead  fast!"  and  was  soon  abreast  the  forts 
and  batteries.  For  half  an  hour  a  fire  of  grape,  canister 
and  shell  fell  on  the  hostile  works,  when  our  marines  landed 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  the  place.  Col.  D.  W.  Wardrop, 
commandant  at  Roanoke,  knowing  the  purpose  of  the  navy, 
and  anticipating  the  need  of  a  co-operating  land  force,  for 
tunately  appeared  with  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  from  the 
One  Hundred  and  Seventy-Sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment, 
and  occupied  the  town.  Our  forces  captured  twenty-two 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  in  position,  thirty-two  prisoners 
with  a  large  number  of  arms,  and  quantities  of  supplies. 
The  Union  garrison  was  soon  after  strengthened  by  a  bat 
talion  of  the  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

With  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  back  amid  former  expe 
riences,  their  longings  for  the  flesh-pots  of  North  Carolina 
were  revived,  and  any  deficiency  of  food  was  speedily 
made  good  by  our  foragers.  Soon  after  pitching  camp  at 
Carolina  City,  a  number  of  men  started  upon  a  scout,  and 
discovered  a  fine  two-acre  watermelon  patch  ;  but  neither 
money  nor  persuasion  could  induce  the  owner  to  part  with 
any  of  them  for  their  use.  It  was  a  crushing  disappoint- 


444  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ment  to  leave  such  luscious  melons  untouched ;  too  much  of 
a  trial  for  weak  humanity  to  submit  to  gracefully  ;  hence  it 
was  determined  to  try  other  tactics  to  relieve  their  distress. 
About  ten  o'clock  that  night,  the  disappointed  ones  were 
again  upon  the  ground,  and  were  revelling  among  the  watery 
viands,  when  their  attention  was  arrested  by  a  man  approach 
ing  with  a  lantern  and  a  large  dog.  Unfortunately,  the  lan 
tern  served  the  purpose  of  our  men  better  than  that  of  its 
owner,  for  they  could  see  his  every  movement.  When  at 
close  range  the  crack  of  a  revolver  laid  the  dog  to  rest,  and 
a  second  later  a  ball  pierced  the  lantern  and  extinguished 
the  light.  To  the  demand,  "  Lay  down  that  gun,  and  leave, 
or  you'll  go  next!"  the  owner  left  a  few  tracks,  with  the 
heels  towards  our  men,  and  a  loaded  shot-gun  on  the  ground. 
It  is  as  useless  to  attempt  to  say  how  many  melons  were 
taken,  or  how  such  a  quantity  were  brought  to  camp,  as  to 
gauge  the  capacity  of  boys  in  a  like  adventure.  On  reach 
ing  the  outpost,  the  challenge  of  the  pickets  was  answered 
by  a  twenty-five-pound  watermelon,  and  this  countersign 
was  declared  "  correct." 

Early  the  next  morning,  the  surly  owner  appeared  at  our 
camp,  dismounted  from  his  horse,  and  sought  aid  of  Lieut. 
Briggs  to  discover  the  melons  and  the  culprits.  Not  a 
melon  or  rind  was  discovered,  the  occupants  of  each  tent 
scornfully  cursing  the  man  who  dared  suspect  any  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  capable  of  such  an  act.  As, 
at  the  end  of  a  useless  search,  he  turned  in  disgust  to 
go  home,  he  found  his  horse  missing,  and  no  clue  could  be 
found  of  it,  until  a  darkey,  employed  in  camp,  "  disremem- 
bered  seein  a  horse  wid  a  camp-kettle  tied  to  his  tail,  run- 
nin  dat  ar  way  as  tho  de  debbil  was  arter  him."  Such  a 
look  of  reprobation ;  such  futile  anger  and  disgust ;  such  a 
realizing  sense  of  human  depravity,  never  centred  more  fully 
in  the  face  of  one  man,  than  in  that  of  our  visitor,  as  he 
turned  to  trudge  home.  A  few  moments  later,  a  large 


MARCHING    ORDERS.  445 

melon  rolled  unceremoniously  into  Lieut.  Briggs'  tent  —  it 
never  came  out  whole  —  and  the  occupants  of  our  camp  sat 
down  to  a  good,  square  treat  on  watermelon. 

November  21st,  Lieut.  Col.  W.  G.  Bartholumew,  now 
senior  officer  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  Carolina  City,  and  was  received  with  unbounded 
enthusiasm.  The  28th  inst.,  we  removed  to  Beaufort,  and 
performed  provost  and  picket  duty  until  December  4th, 
when  orders  arrived:  "Report  at  once  at  New  Berne,  in 
light  marching  order."  With  nothing  but  overcoats  to  en 
cumber  us,  we  reached  New  Berne  that  night,  boarded  the 
steamer  "  Massasoit,"  and  arrived  at  Plymouth  December 
7th. 


446  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

EAINBOW     BLUFF. 

A  COMBINED  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  below  Wilmington, 
had  been  for  some  time  under  consideration,  and  Gen'l  Wild 
appeared  at  New  Berne,  with  orders  from  Gen'l  Butler  re 
quiring  that  a  co-operative  movement  be  made  from  this 
department.  The  instructions  were  :  "  Rendezvous  a  suffi 
cient  land  force  at  Plymouth,  N.  C.,  and,  after  effecting 
arrangements  with  our  fleet,  co-operate  with  them  in  an 
advance  to  Rainbow  Bluff  and  a  joint  attack  upon  Fort 
Branch.  Succeeding  in  this,  the  land  force  will  make  a 
forced  march  upon  Tarboro  as  its  objective  point,  destroy 
the  railroad  bridge,  and  fall  back  under  cover  of  the  gun 
boats.  Should  any  part  of  this  plan  fail,  the  commander 
will  maintain  secrecy,  that  the  same  may  be  open  for  future 
movements." 

In  the  absence  of  Gen'l  Palmer  from  the  department,  Brig. 
Gen'l  Edward  Harland  designated  for  this  movement  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Ninth  New  Jersey,  Sixteenth  Conn., 
Eighty-Fifth  New  York,  and  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
Sixth  Penn.  Regiments ;  Battery  A,  Third  N.  Y.  Artillery ; 
and  the  Twelfth  N.  Y.  Cavalry.  Col.  Savage,  the  com 
mander  of  the  last-named  regiment,  was  to  command  the 
expedition.  Battery  A,  Capt.  Russell,  one  hundred  and 
ninety  men,  dismounted,  and  armed  with  rifles,  were  for 
the  time  consolidated  with  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt. 
For  reasons  unknown,  the  Twelfth  N.  Y.  Cavalry  failed  to 
report  at  Plymouth,  and  the  command  of  the  expedition 
devolved  upon  Col.  Jones  Frankle,  of  the  Second  Mass. 


GARDNER'S  BRIDGE  AND  FOSTER'S  MILLS.  447 

Heavy  Artillery,  as  senior  officer.  He  was  at  this  time 
Military  Governor  of  the  Department  of  the  Albemarle, 
with  headquarters  at  Plymouth.  Lieuts.  Cogan,  of  the 
Ninth  New  Jersey,  and  E.  L.  Peck,  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.,  were  appointed  aides-de-camp  to  Col.  Frankle.  Joint 
arrangements  were  effected  with  Commander  Macomb ;  and 
at  five  A.M.,  December  9th,  the  column  moved  from 
Plymouth,  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth  New 
Jersey  Regiments  in  advance. 

The  enemy  were  encountered  five  miles  out,  but  fell 
back  with  light  skirmishing  to  Gardner's  Bridge,  where 
they  made  a  stand  the  morning  of  the  10th.  They  were 
strongly  posted  on  heights  across  a  creek,  supported  by 
artillery  and  cavalry,  and  wrere  attempting  to  destroy  the 
bridge.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey 
charged,  driving  them  from  the  bridge,  and  routing  the 
forces  on  the  heights.  Sharp  skirmishing  continued  until 
reaching  Foster's  Mills,  where  the  enemy  took  position  on 
bluffs  skirting  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream,  with  the 
intervening  bridge  dismantled.  This  position  was  the  one 
known  as  Rhall's  Mills  on  the  Tarboro  Expedition,  from 
which  the  Twenty-Fourth  and  Forty-Fourth  Mass,  dis 
lodged  the  enemy  on  that  occasion.  Four  pieces  of  artillery 
were  brought  into  position  upon  the  road,  with  the  Second 
and  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey  Regi 
ments  deployed  above,  and  the  remainder  of  the  force  below 
the  road.  The  enemy  were  engaged  for  half  an  hour,  under 
cover  of  which  Lieut.  Reed,  of  the  Second  Mass.,  repaired 
the  bridge  sufficiently  for  the  passage  of  troops,  when  the 
foe  suddenly  retreated.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  lost  in 
this  engagement  Thomas  Shea,  Company  K,  of  Northamp 
ton,  killed,  and  Ezra  Lovering,  Company  G,  Northampton, 
wounded  in  the  hand. 

After  a  delay  of  five  hours  repairing  the  bridge,  we  again 
advanced,  the  rebels  retreating  stubbornly  beyond  Williams- 


448  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ton,  which  place  was  occupied  the  evening  of  the  10th.  Sun 
day,  the  llth,  we  remained  at  this  place,  awaiting  arrival  of 
the  navy,  reports  as  of  heavy  guns  reaching  us  from  down  the 
river.  As  the  day  declined,  it  was  decided  to  move  on,  leav 
ing  the  Eighty-Fifth  New  York  to  guard  and  forward  sup 
plies  when  they  arrived.  At  midnight  the  column  advanced, 
avoiding  the  river  road,  reaching  Spring  Green  Church,  one 
mile  from  Butler's  Bridge,  at  one  A.M.  the  12th.  At  the 
latter  place  the  enemy  were  intrenched  and  Col.  Frankle 
decided  to  divide  his  force,  ordering  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey  to  make  a  detour  to  the  right, 
reach  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  join  in  a  simul 
taneous  attack  upon  the  intrenchments. 

The  night  was  bitterly  cold,  the  water  in  our  canteens 
chilled  to  ice,  and  the  frozen  ground  jagged  and  rough.  The 
moon  shone  with  a  flood  of  light,  requiring  great  care  and 
secrecy  in  our  movement  to  prevent  discovery.  Our  guide 
led  us  to  the  right,  across  wooded  fields  and  through  a  deep, 
dry  ditch,  and  ravines  shaded  by  overhanging  cliffs,  to  a 
stream  over  which  the  bridge  was  destroyed  The  stream 
was  at  flood  height,  —  a  roaring  torrent, — but  by  the  aid  of 
flood-wood  and  brush  against  the  piers,  a  crossing  was 
effected.  The  setting  moon  was  now  obscured  by  clouds 
and  the  waning  light  enabled  us  to  see  the  outlines  of  Fort 
Branch  as  we  passed.  Crossing  the  fields,  we  struck  a 
road  connecting  Fort  Branch  with  the  Hamilton  road,  via 
Butler's  Bridge,  and  followed  it  to  their  intersection.  Hav 
ing  gained  the  rear,  we  advanced  a  short  distance  down  the 
road  to  the  cover  of  a  forest,  and  rested,  while  a  reconnois- 
sance  was  made  to  determine  the  enemy's  position  and  force. 

We  had  been  observed  by  Col.  Hinton,  commandant  at 
this  post,  whose  headquarters  were  at  a  house  just  above  the 
intersection  of  roads.  Supposing  us  to  be  reinforcements 
he  had  expected,  he  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  up  to  Capt. 
Russell  (Third  N.  Y.  Artillery),  who  was  holding  the  rear 


THE  FUN  ALL  ON  ONE  SIDE.  449 

of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  and  accosted  him,  "  Good  morning, 
Captain  !  Never  so  glad  to  see  any  one  in  my  life  !  "  and 
turning  to  the  men,  added,  "Had  a  pretty  rough  jaunt,  ain't 
you,  boys  ?  You  are  most  there,  though  ! "  There  was  hardly 
light  enough  to  discern  colors  in  the  gray  of  dawn,  but  Capt. 
Russell  scented  the  fun,  and  replied,  "  Good  morning  !  Col 
onel  is  just  ahead,  and  would  be  glad  to  see  you  !"  Reach 
ing  Col.  Bartholomew,  Hinton  extended  his  hand,  say 
ing,  "Good  morning,  Colonel!  just  in  time!  There's  fun 
ahead  ! "  Col.  Bartholomew  had  walked  just  far  enough  to 
particularly  admire  the  gray  steed  before  him,  and  his  love 
for  horseflesh  (never  at  low  ebb),  was  now  "  at  the  bulge," 
as  the  natives  had  it.  Grasping  Hinton's  hand  and  the 
horse's  bits  most  affectionately,  Col.  Bartholomew  exclaimed, 
"Ah!  Good  morning!  I'm  awful  glad  to  see  you  !  You 
may  get  off  that  horse  !  you  won't  need  it  any  longer,  as 
you  are  my  prisoner!"  "Wha— What!"  exclaimed  the 
astonished  rebel  officer,  "What  regiment  are  you  ?  "  "Twen 
ty-Seventh  Mass.,"  was  the  prompt  reply.  "  The  d — 1  you 
are  !  I  thought  you  were  the  Weldon  Junior  Reserves,"  was 
Col.  Hinton's  disconsolate  rejoinder. 

We  had  now,  not  only  the  commander  of  the  post,  but  the 
key  to  the  position;  ice  were  now  the  "Weldon  Junior 
Iteserves"  Advancing  to  three  or  four  log  barracks  a  short 
distance  ahead,  we  saluted  the  sentinel,  "Turn  out  the 
guard  for  the  Junior  Reserves  ! "  These  came  tumbling 
out,  grumbling  at  being  disturbed,  and  were  seized  with 
out  the  firing  of  a  gun,  and  before  they  could  realize  the 
situation.  Advancing  towards  the  intrenchments,  Capt. 
Hufty,  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  was  challenged  by  two 
sentinels,  but  kept  on,  saying  in  a  drawling  tone,  "Come 
ah-n,  boy-es  ;  come  ah  n  !  we-ur  Weldon  Reserves;  they 
uns  won't  hurt  us.  Come  ah-n!"  and  before  the  sentinels 
could  decide  what  to  do,  they  were  prisoners. 

Surgeon   Fish   now  reported   that  there  was  a  squad  of 


450          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

cavalry,  with  infantry,  approaching  from  the  rear  (this  was 
the  Junior  Reserves),  and  Col.  Stewart  of  the  Ninth  New 
Jersey,  who  was  in  command  of  the  force,  deployed  his  own 
regiment  facing  the  approaching  column,  and  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  in  reverse,  facing  the  intrenchments,  and  gave 
the  order,  < '  Charge  !  "  In  getting  into  position  a  shot  was  fired 
by  a  rebel  guard,  which  was  responded  to  by  the  "  artillery 
boys  "  just  as  the  order  to  charge  was  given.  The  Junior 
Reserves  broke  in  all  directions  before  the  impetuous  rush 
of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey,  while  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass, 
charged  down  the  corduroy  road  upon  the  astonished  enemy 
in  the  intrenchments.  The  Johnnies  abandoned  their  works 
in  utter  rout,  some  taking  to  the  woods,  others  with  three 
pieces  of  artillery  rushing  down  the  road  to  Tarboro  Forks, 
making  good  their  escape  to  Tarboro.  A  large  number  were 
captured  by  us.  Several  of  our  men  were  also  captured  by 
the  enemy,  but  made  their  escape. 

Lieut.  E.  L.  Peck,  of  Company  F,  Twent}r-SeventhMass. 
Regt.,  acting  aid  to  Col.  F  rankle,  with  Lieut.  Reed  of  the 
Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  were,  at  this  juncture,  vainly 
endeavoring  to  urge  the  skirmishers  of  the  Second  Artillery 
forward  to  occupy  the  forks  of  the  road.  The  failure  at  this 
point  robbed  the  expedition  of  the  fruits  of  victory.  In  jus 
tice  to  these  officers,  and  to  the  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artil 
lery  as  an  organization,  it  should  be  said  that  the  detachment 
present  in  this  engagement,  was  composed  of  unassigned 
conscripts,  substitutes,  and  recruits  recently  arrived  and 
temporarily  assigned  to  the  Second  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 
They  were  in  no  sense  representative  of  that  regiment,  many 
of  whom  were  men  of  experience  and  meritorious  service. 

Col.  Frankle,  on  learning  the  difficulty  with  the  skirmish 
ers,  went  to  the  front  and  endeavored  to  urge  the  troops 
forward,  and  at  the  same  time  sent  an  order  to  Capt.  Gra 
ham  to  move  forward  and  occupy  the  forks  of  the  road  with 
his  cavalry.  While  the  skirmishers  were  being  pressed  for- 


COL.  FRANKLE'S  MOVEMENTS.  451 

ward,  a  piece  of  artillery  was  brought  across  Butler's  Bridge 
and  opened  upon  them,  wounding  Lieut.  Spencer  and  four 
men.  While  Col.  Frankle  was  deploying  his  men  to  engage 
this  gun,  our  charge  from  the  rear  was  made,  as  already  nar 
rated,  so  that  neither  the  infantry  nor  cavalry  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  point  necessary  to  cut  off  the  rebels'  retreat. 

The  understanding  was,  the  forks  of  the  road  should  be 
occupied  in  force  ;  but  Col.  Frankle  rejoins.  "  Col.  Stewart's 
orders  were  to  gain  the  rear  and  await  his  attack  in  front." 
Such  instructions  were  not  unfrequent  during  the  war,  and 
often  resulted  in  brilliant  success.  There  are,  however,  so 
many  contingencies  permitting  no  delay,  with  flanking  col 
umns,  that  it  would  seem  to  be  a  more  judicious  arrange 
ment  to  hold  the  force  in  front  ready  to  co-operate  in  the 
attack  from  the  rear.  Justified  by  many  successful  examples, 
and  by  the  personal  efforts  of  the  commander  to  press  to 
success  each  detail  of  the  movement,  whatever  disappoint 
ment  we  had,  must  rest  upon  the  character  of  the  force  in 
front. 

Col.  Frankle  immediately  ordered  Graham's  Cavalry  to 
follow  the  fleet-footed  enemy  toward  Tarboro,  but  this  failed 
of  material  results.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth 
New  Jersey  returned  to  Col.  Hinton's  headquarters  and 
reconnoitred  towards  Fort  Branch,  discovering  the  Junior 
Reserves  drawn  in  line  before  the  fort.  These  two  regiments 
desired  to  assault  the  fort;  but,  "  having  only  four  rounds 
of  ammunition  for  the  artillery,  after  consultation  with  Gen'l 
Wild,  Col.  Frankle  ordered  the  troops  to  withdraw  to 
Williamston."  The  failure  of  the  navy,  which  had  our  extra 
ammunition,  to  connect  and  co-operate,  and  the  lack  of  in 
formation  from  them,  was  the  ground  of  withdrawal.  The 
injunction  of  secrecy  in  the  orders  prevented  any  explana 
tion  by  Col.  Frankle.  While  resting  upon  the  field,  Col. 
Bartholomew  decoyed  a  quartermaster-sergeant  and  cap 
tured  him.  He  mourned  sorely  over  this  untimely  misfor- 


452  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

tune,  as  he  had  been  married  only  the  night  previous.  The 
result  of  the  expedition  was  the  capture  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  prisoners,  including  Col.  Hinton,  two  field  and 
two  line  officers,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  stand  of 
arms.  Gen'l  Wild  writes  in  commendation  of  this  move 
ment :  "  The  whole  affair  and  all  the  details  were  planned 
with  judgment  and  carried  out  with  coolness  and  steadiness." 

Returning  to  Williamston,  and  finding  no  tidings  of  the 
fleet,  couriers  were  dispatched  to  Jamesville,  who  returned 
with  the  information  that  the  river  was  so  full  of  torpedoes 
it  was  uncertain  when  the  navy  would  be  able  to  arrive. 
Seventy  torpedoes  had  already  been  removed;  the  "  Otsego  " 
and  "  Bazely  "  gunboats  sunk,  several  vessels  injured,  and 
the  fleet  was  still  near  that  place.  On  the  14th  we  fell  back 
to  Jamesville  to  secure  supplies  and  render  the  navy  such 
assistance  as  they  might  need.  At  Jamesville  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  and  Ninth  New  Jersey  Regiments  were 
ordered  to  Cedar  Landing,  to  cover  the  navy,  returning  the 
17th  inst.  On  the  21st,  Commander  Macomb  sent  word 
from  Poplar  Point  that  the  em-my  were  concentrating  upon 
the  bluffs ;  and  desired  aid  to  dislodge  their  sharpshooters. 
By  this  time  our  supplies  were  exhausted,  and  the  men  so 
chafed  and  footsore  that  fully  one-half  the  force  had  been 
placed  upon  the  sick  list  by  the  surgeons.  Word  was  sent 
Commander  Macomb  to  that  effect,  when  both  forces  re 
turned  to  Plymouth,  awaiting  supplies  ;  but  before  another 
advance  could  be  arranged  the  entire  force  was  recalled  to 
New  Berne. 

The  waning  days  of  1864  completed  a  year  of  struggles 
which  materially  advanced  the  prospects  of  peace.  The 
defeats  of  the  Union  army  at  Olustee,  Paducah,  Fort  Pil 
low,  Plymouth,  Red  River,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor, 
Mine,  and  Hatcher's  Run,  had  been  of  temporary,  if  not  of 
questionable,  benefit  to  the  enemy ;  while  the  victories  of 
Farragut  at  Mobile,  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah,  Stcele  in 


MAJOR    MOORE    IS    BELLIGERENT.  453 

Missouri,  Schofield  at  Franklin,  Thomas  at  Nashville,  and 
Sherman  at  Atlanta,  were  crushing  defeats  to  the  enemy. 
Grierson's  march  from  Tennessee  to  Louisiana,  and  Sher 
man's  from  Atlanta  to  Savannah,  showed  the  exhausted  and 
hopeless  condition  of  the  Confederacy,  —  "a  shell  with 
nothing  in  it,"  —  while  the  iron  grip  of  Gen'l  Grant  held 
its  best  general  and  army  with  a  tenacity  which  paralyzed 
its  power.  These  results  had  been  obtained  with  a  terrible 
cost  of  life  and  limb,  over  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
men  having  been  placed  hors  de  combat  in  Virginia  alone, 
and  two  hundred  thousand  on  all  the  fields  of  battle.  If 
the  loss  had  fallen  most  heavily  on  the  Union  arms,  the 
benefits  had  proportionately  accrued  to  them. 

The  sad  results  of  service  had  told  fearfully  upon  the 
numerical  strength  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  the 
tri-monthly  report  of  December  19th  showing  :  — 

Officers  upon  the  rolls  present,  .  .  .  .  .15 
Officers  upon  the  rolls  prisoners,  .....  7 

—     22 

Enlisted  men  on  the  rolls  present,  .....  234 
Enlisted  men  upon  the  rolls  sick,  .  .  .  .  .101 
Enlisted  men  on  the  rolls  prisoners,  ....  241 

576 

Total  upon  the  rolls,          .  •       .         .         .         .         .         598 

On  the  7th  of  January,  the  regiment  received  orders  to 
return  to  Beaufort,  and  sailed  from  Plymouth  the  8th  inst. 
The  trip  was  rough  and  sloppy,  a  cold  wind  and  rain,  with  a 
lack  of  blankets,  rendering  it  chilly  in  the  extreme.  Several 
bales  of  cotton  aboard  were  appropriated  to  our  comfort,  oc 
casioning  considerable  mourning  and  bluster  by  a  quasi  citi 
zen  and  resulting  in  the  presentation  of  a  bill  of  several  hun 
dred  dollars  to  Major  Moore  for  settlement.  The  major  had 
been  used  to  wordy  contests,  and  being  of  the  legal  frater 
nity,  believed  he  understood  the  "true  inwardness"  of  this 


454          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

"  cotton  speculation,"  and  rather  wished  to  focus  matters. 
Hence  he  replied:  "If  this  is  your  cotton,  what  business 
has  it  on  a  government  transport,  and  how  came  you  by  it? 
If  it  is  government  cotton,  what  right  have  you  to  demand 
pay  for  it?  Let  Gren'l  Palmer  demand  pay,  and  I  will  make 
answer  to  it !  " 

January  10th  we  arrived  at  New  Berne,  and  proceeded 
by  rail  to  Beaufort,  but  on  reaching  Morehead  City,  found 
telegraphic  orders  to  return  to  New  Berne.  -We  had  been 
absent  since  December  4th,  without  blankets  or  change  of 
any  part  of  our  clothing  ;  but  military  orders  were  inexorable, 
and  though  within  sight  of  Beaufort,  we  returned  without 
visiting  our  camp.  During  the  interim  of  absence  we  had 
turned  our  shirts  several  times,  wearing  one  side  until  the 
other  appeared  the  cleanest,  when  we  put  that  outside. 
This  was  soldiering  indeed  !  Arriving  at  New  Berne,  we 
found  no  provision  made  for  our  supply  or  comfort,  and  were 
forced  to  bivouac  in  an  open  field  and  in  a  pouring  rain 
until  the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  some  plain,  incisive 
"words"  from  Col.  Bartholomew  to  negligent  authorities, 
secured  permission  for  us  to  go  into  the  depot  for  shelter. 
Here  we  were  joined  by  those  Ave  had  left  with  the  camp  at 
Beaufort  December  4th,  and  on  the  12th  were  assigned  to 
outpost  duty,  relieving  a  detachment  of  the  Second  Mass. 
Heavy  Artillery.  Companies  B,  D,  F,  G,  I  and  K  were 
stationed  at  Rocky  Run,  under  command  of  Col.  Bartholo 
mew,  and  the  remainder  at  the  Red  House,  three  miles 
nearer  the  railroad,  under  Capt.  McKay.  We  were  here 
initiated  into  a  new  feature  of  picket  duty,  the  cavalry 
videttes  being  stationed  at  the  rear  of  the  picket-line.  We 
were  also  made  glad  by  a  sight  of  the  ' '  longed-for  paymas 
ter,"  having  been  without  pay  since  the  previous  February. 
Some  little  dissatisfaction  existed  when  it  was  found  the 
payment  was  to  cover  only  to  August  31st ;  but  the  clothing 
account  being  included,  it  passed  satisfactorily. 


EXPEDITIONS    AGAINST    FORT    FISHER.  455 

The  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher,  with  which  our  ad 
vance  above  Plymouth  was  intended  to  co-operate,  proved  a 
miserable  failure.  The  troop  transports  did  not  arrive  at 
Beaufort  until  December  18th,  and  were  detained  at  that  port 
by  a  gale,  arriving  off  Fort  Fisher  the  evening  of  the  24th. 
Fifty-three  of  our  best  naval  vessels,  mounting  five  hun 
dred  and  thirty-nine  heavy  guns,  had  assaulted  the  fort  for 
five  hours  that  day,  not  a  hostile  gun  replying  beyond  an 
hour  and  a  quarter  after  the  opening  of  the  engagement. 
The  25th  inst.,  landing  was  effected  five  miles  east  of  Fort 
Fisher,  under  cover  of  the  navy.  Gen'l  Weitzel  advanced  his 
skirmishers  within  fifty  yards  of  the  fort  (which  was  under 
a  heavy  fire  from  the  fleet),  and  three  or  four  men  went 
upon  the  parapet,  and  captured  the  garrison's  flag ;  but  Gen'l 
Butler  deemed  the  fort  susceptible  to  capture  only  by 
siege,  and,  claiming  that  that  Avas  not  included  in  his  instruc- 

o     *  7  o 

tions,  he  re-embarked  his  troops  and  returned  to  Fortress 
Monroe. 

This  failure  was  the  occasion,  rather  than  the  cause  of 
Gen'l  Butler's  removal,  for  it  was  no  secret  that  the  com 
manding  general  had  long  been  dissatisfied  with  him.  The 
order  for  him  to  report  at  Lowell  was  universally  approved 
by  the  army  and  the  country.  It  is  but  just  to 
concede  Gen'l  Butler's  ability  as  an  executive  officer ; 
his  shrewdness  and  skill  in  diplomacy  and  statecraft. 
He  was  at  his  best  as  the  military  governor  of  New 
Orleans.  His  success  during  the  rebellion  was  in  this  direc 
tion.  It  was  not  discreditable "  that  he  was  not  a  suc 
cessful  field  general ;  that  he  was  not  equal  to  besieging,  or 
to  defending  besieged  places,  to  planning  battles,  or  to  direct 
ing  assaults.  His  prominence  during  the  war,  arose  from 
his  use  of  favoring  events  ;  his  signal  failure  and  the  coun 
try's  disappointment  from  the  fact  that  he  had  military 
greatness  thrust  upon  him,  but  was  nowhere  equal  to  it. 

January    6th,    Maj.    Gen'l   A.    H.    Terry  left   Fortress 


456  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Monroe,  with  eight  thousand  men  under  Gen'ls  Ames 
and  Paine,  and  Col.  Abbott,  to  renew  the  assault  upon 
Fort  Fisher,  the  navy  co-operating.  The  troops  landed 
the  13th,  as  before,  and  constructed  a  line  of  defence 
against  a  possible  rear  attack.  Gen'l  Paine's  and  Col. 
Abbott's  Brigades  (forty-five  hundred  men)  were  left 
to  defend  this  line,  while  Gen'l  Ames'  Brigade  (thirty-five 
hundred  men)  was  the  assaulting  column.  The  assault  was 
made  at  three  o'clock  the  15th,  and  lasted  until  about  nine 
o'clock,  when  the  fort  and  outlying  works  were  captured, 
with  a  Union  loss  of  eighty-eight  killed,  five  hundred  and 
one  wounded,  and  ninety-two  missing.  The  Confederate  loss 
in  killed  and  wounded  was  about  four  hundred ;  besides 
which  we  captured  one  hundred  and  twelve  officers,  one 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-one  men,  one  hundred 
and  sixty-nine  pieces  of  artillery,  and  two  thousand  stand  of 
arms.  Fort  Caswell  and  the  river  batteries  opposite,  were 
evacuated,  and  blown  up  by  the  enemy  during  the  night. 

Maj.  Gen'l  John  M.  Schofield,  stationed  at  Eastport, 
Miss.,  and  the  Twenty-Third  Corps,  were  ordered  to  the 
Department  of  North  Carolina ;  but  it  was  not  until  about 
February  19th  this  force  arrived  in  the  State,  a  part  of  it 
being  sent  to  New  Berne,  and  the  remainder  to  Fort  Fisher. 
Gen'l  Sherman  was  at  this  time  moving  upon  Columbia, 
S.  C.,  and  the  strengthening  of  this  department  was  for  the 
purpose  of  co-operating  with  him,  and  of  uniting  forces  at 
Goldsboro,  at  which  place  Gen'l  Sherman  expected  to  arrive 
about  the  middle  of  March.  On  the  22d  of  February,  Gen'l 
Schofield  captured  Wilmington,  with  a  loss  of  less  than  two 
hundred  men,  the  enemy  being  flanked,  and  the  place  cap 
tured  with  but  little  resistance. 

February  Llth  Capt.  J.  W.  Trafton  returned  from  duty 
at  Boston  Harbor,  and  relieved  Capt.  McKay  at  the  Red 
House.  Companies  C,  D  and  I  were  joined  to  this  com 
mand,  and  Company  II  returned  to  Rocky  Run.  Quite  an 


THE  RED  HOUSE  AND  ROCKY  RUN.  457 

excitement  was  created,  a  few  days  later,  by  a  full  company 
of  the  Sixth  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  with  horses,  arms 
and  equipments,  deserting,  and  coming  within  our  lines. 
After  being  disarmed,  they  were  given  the  freedom  of  New 
Berne,  many  of  them  in  their  new-found  freedom,  remarking, 
"  If  the  Confederate  army  knew  they  would  be  treated  like 
this,  you  would  have  the  whole  army  here  in  a  few  days." 
February  12th  Capt.  J.  H.  Nutting  and  Lieut.  W.  G.  Davis 
returned  to  "the  regiment,  having  escaped  from  prison  as 
before  narrated.  On  the  15th,  thirty  recruits  were  received, 
and  were  assigned  to  Company  C,  increasing  the  effective 
strength  of  the  regiment  to  about  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  men.  Company  C  now  returned  to  Rocky  Kim,  and 
was  replaced  at  the  Red  House  by  Companies  B  and  F. 


458  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

SOUTH-WEST     CREEK. 

FEBRUARY  25th,  Gen'l  Palmer  received  instructions  from 
Gen'l  Schofield  to  move  at  once  upon  Kinston,  but  being 
dilatory,  was  superseded  March  3d  by  Gen'l  J.  D.  Cox 
and  assigned  to  a  subordinate  command.  He  was  soon 
relieved  from  this  also,  and  retired  from  the  front.  New 
Berne  was  at  this  time  overran  with  convalescents,  recruits, 
and  conscripts  who  were  being  crowded  to  the  front,  and 
these  represented  nearly  every  organization  in  the  Tenth, 
Eighteenth  and  Twenty-Third  Corps.  Many  of  them,  unable 
to  find  their  regiments,  had  collected  at  Camp  Chattanooga, 
but  were  now  assigned  to  various  regiments  forming  Carter's 
Provisional  Corps. 

Gen.  Schofield's  first  plan  against  the  enemy  was  to  make 
the  movement  from  New  Berne  subsidiary  to  more  impor 
tant  ones  from  Wilmington,  via  the  Weldon  Railroad.  The 
enemy's  forces  were,  however,  strongly  posted  before  Kins- 
ton,  and  were  reinforced  by  Hoke's,  Cheatham's  and  a  part 
of  S.  D.  Lee's  Divisions;  and  the  whole  command  placed 
under  Gen'l  Braxton  Bragg.  Their  plan  was  clearly  to  hold 
Kinston  and  Goldsboro  at  all  hazards,  to  crush  each  advance 
from  New  Berne  and  Wilmington  in  detail,  and  then  to  unite 
with  Johnston  in  a  combined  attack  upon  Sherman's  vic 
torious  host.  This  necessitated  making  the  movement  via 
New  Berne  most  prominent ;  and  a  part  of  the  Twenty- 
Third  Corps  was  hastily  removed  by  transports  from  Wil 
mington  to  that  place.  The  advance  towards  Goldsboro  was 
made  under  the  watchful  eye  of  Gen'l  Schofield ;  while  Gen'ls 


COLONEL  BARTHOLEMEW'S  SPEECH.          459 

Terry  and  Couch  co-operated  from  Wilmington,  with  instruc 
tions  to  join  our -column  at  the  earliest  moment  possible. 

March  4th  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  was  brigaded  with 
the  Fifteenth  Conn.  Regt.,  under  command  of  Col.  Charles 
L.  Upham,  and  the  brigade  was  designated  as  the  Second 
Brigade,  Second  Division,  District  of  Beaufort.  The  Fif 
teenth  Conn,  was  a  veteran  regiment,  much  reduced  by  ser 
vice,  to  which  so  many  men  from  Camp  Chattanooga  had 
been  temporarily  ordered  that  it  had  nearly  its  original 
numbers.  Of  necessity  it  lacked  the  cohesion  and  spirit 
resulting  from  a  union  of  service. 

The  force  under  Gen'l  Cox  moved  from  New  Berne  March 
3d ;  and  two  days  later,  the  Twenty-Seventh  received  orders 
to  "  report  at  Core  Creek  in  light  marching  order,  with  four 
days'  rations  and  sixty  rounds."  Early  the  morning  of  the 
5th  we  rendezvoused  at  Bachelor's  Creek,  and  advanced  by 
the  Neuse  and  Dover  Roads — the  old  Gum  Swamp  route  — 
reaching  Core  Creek  about  four  P.M.  At  half-past  six  the 
morning  of  the  6th  a  general  movement  began,  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  upon  the  advance  as  skirmishers.  The  roads 
were  muddy,  and  heavily  blockaded  by  the  enemy,  so  that 
our  progress  was  slow  and  tedious,  and  we  halted  for  the 
night  on  a  field  near  the  scene  of  our  old  Gum  Swamp  con 
flict.  Before  being  dismissed,  Col.  Bartholomew  addressed 
the  regiment  as  follows  :  "Boys,  we  are  going  into  another 
fight,  and  I  expect  you  will  maintain  the  honor  of  the  old 
Twenty-Seventh.  Don't  run  until  you  see  me  run,  and  be 
sure  you  mistake  no  other  man  for  me.  "When  you  see  me 
going,  run  like  hell !  " 

The  pioneer  and  construction  corps  were  busy  the  entire 
night,  clearing  and  constructing  roads,  and  it  was  nearly 
noon  of  the  7th  before  orders  to  advance  were  received. 
The  Ninth  New  Jersey  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second 
New  York  took  the  advance  as  skirmishers,  the  enemy 
opposing  them  sharply  with  musketry  and  artillery.  Reach- 


460 


TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


ing  Wise  Forks,  the  force  under  Col.  Claassen  charged  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  driving  them  across  South- West  Creek 
at  Jackson's  Mills,  —  four  and  a  half  miles  from  Kinston, 
and  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Forks.  A  considerable 
artillery  engagement  took  place,  under  which  the  Ninth  and 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Second  were  withdrawn,  and  half 


of  the  Fifteenth  Conn,  moved  forward  and  took  position 
across  the  road  one  hundred  yards  from  the  creek.  The 
other  half  was  marched  south  into  a  field  to  protect  the  left 
flank,  while  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  was  posted  in  the 
woods  on  the  right  of  the  Jackson  Mills  road,  supporting 


COLONEL,    YOU   ARE    BEING    FLANKED.  4G1 

the  pickets.  Thus  situated,  the  Twenty-Seventh  spread  their 
blankets  for  the  night,  their  rest  being  disturbed  at  intervals 
by  shots  from  the  enemy's  battery  across  the  creek. 

The  grounds  were  mostly  a  dead  level,  covered  with  par 
tially  reclaimed  swamps,  or  thickets  of  woods  and  marsh, 
while  the  roads  were  mud-holes  of  uncertain  depths.  Palmer's 
Division  held  the  right  along  the  railroad  two  miles  distant, 
while  Carter's  Provisional  Division  occupied  Wise  Forks, 
one  and  a  half  miles  to  the  rear.  Between  these  forces  was 
a  gap  of  nearly  half  a  mile,  depending  upon  its  marshy  char 
acter  for  defence  against  rebel  incursions.  At  the  rear  of 
our  position,  the  Old  British  Road,  from  the  railroad,  cut  the 
Jackson  Mills  road  at  right  angles,  at  the  south-westerly 
corner  of  which  was  an  earthwork,  occupied  by  Company  D, 
Seventeenth  Mass.  Regt.,  Capt.  Cann.  A  detachment  of 
the  Twelfth  N.  Y.  Cavalry  were  on  the  British  Road  south 
of  the  corners,  as  videttes ;  while  a  section  of  Battery  I, 
Third  N.  Y.  Artillery,  Lieut.  Seymour,  was  stationed  on 
Jackson  Mills  Road,  at  the  rear  of  the  Fifteenth  Conn. 
Regt. 

At  seven  A.M.,  the  8th  of  March,  rumors  reached  us  that 
"  the  enemy  were  attempting  a  flauk  movement  at  our  left," 
and  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  were  ordered  to  take  position 
across  the  British  Road,  south  of  the  Corners,  which  they 
did,  while  two  cavalry  videttes  were  thrown  half  a  mile  in 
advance  to  warn  of  danger.  We  were  holding  this  posi 
tion  about  eleven  o'clock  A.M.,  when  an  old  man,  upon 
horseback,  and  in  citizen's  dress,  rode  up,  saying  to  Col. 
Bartholomew,  "  You  are  being  flanked,  and  may  expect  the 
enemy  in  that  direction  at  any  moment,"  pointing  towards 
the  woods  in  the  direction  of  Wise  Forks. 

This  was  really  our  rear,  and  separated  us  from  our  sup 
ports.  Col.  Bartholomew  immediately  changed  front,  bring 
ing  the  regiment  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  road  (facing 
east),  and  advanced  the  left  flank  company  under  Adjt. 


462  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

J.  W.  Holmes  and  Lieut.  L.  A.  Holmes,  as  skirmishers. 
They  were  moving  too  far  to  the  right,  when  Col.  Bartholo 
mew  advanced  to  a  slight  rise  and  ordered  them  farther  to 
the  left,  pointing  with  finger,  and  following  with  his  eye 
the  desired  direction.  As  he  did  so,  the  enemy  suddenly 
emerged  from  the  Avhole  line  of  woods,  and  charged  double- 
quick  towards  our  position,  and  the  intersection  of  the  roads. 
The  woods  were  literally  full  of  them,  from  which  they 
swarmed  with  yells,  until  they  covered  our  front  and  flanks. 

Col.  Bartholomew  returned  to  the  regiment,  and  as  soon 
as  the  skirmishers  had  returned,  ordered  us  to  open  fire. 
The  two  pieces  of  Seymour's  Batter}r,  after  firing  a  few 
rounds,  rushed  down  the  road  in  the  direction  of  Wise 
Forks,  one  of  its  guns  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands  ;  while 
the  detachment  of  the  Seventeenth  Mass,  made  good  its 
escape  by  the  British  Road.  The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  by 
its  morning  report,  March  7,  1865,  numbered  nine  (it  should 
have  been  ten)  officers  and  one  hundred  ninety-one  men,  of 
whom  Col.  Bartholomew  writes:  "I  felt  as  much  con 
fidence  in  them  as  in  a  whole  regiment  of  new  troops,  and 
that  confidence  was  never  misplaced." 

The  enemy  captured  the  detachment  of  the  Twelfth  N.  Y. 
Cavalry,  who  were  upon  the  British  Road  below  us,  and 
charged  our  skirmishers,  driving  them  back  three  hundred 
yards  upon  the  regiment.  Here  we  delivered  a  rapid  and 
effective  fire,  causing  their  massed  troops  to  recoil  from  our 
front.  The  Confederates  covered  our  position  with  shriek 
ing  shot,  amidst  which  Col.  Bartholomew  moved  back  and 
forth  along  the  line,  encouragingly  saying,  "You  are  doing 
well,  boys;  keep  cool!  Don't  waste  your  ammunition!" 
We  kept  our  position,  giving  them  the  best  we  had,  again 
and  again  causing  their  lines  to  halt,  until  their  shots  came 
quartering  from  the  rear,  and  we  could  see  them  in  nearly 
three-quarters  of  a  circle  around  us.  Our  colonel  again 
moved  along  the  line,  saying,  "Boys,  I  want  to  face  you 


HARDLY    A   FIGHTING    CHANCE.  463 

to  the  rear ;  march  back  a  little,  and  turn  around  and  give  it 
to  them  again.  Keep  cool  and  steady  :  About  —  Face  !  — 
Forward  ! "  and  the  regiment  moved  compactly  across  the 
road,  forming  in  the  field  beyond  the  enemy's  flanks. 

It  was  a  trying  movement,  and  none  but  men  of  sterling 
courage  and  coolness  could  have  executed  it  so  well ;  for 
the  prevailing  impulse  in  retiring  from  danger  is  excessive 
haste,  which  in  such  a  moment  easily  becomes  a  total  rout. 
Every  man  stopped  at  the  order  "  Halt !  "  and  faced  about, 
concentrating  a  well-directed  fire  upon  the  rebels'  advance. 
From  front  and  flanks  a  converging  fire  swept  our  position, 
and  the  enemy  closed  upon  us,  yelling,  "  Surrender  !  Sur 
render  ! "  for  they  were  in  overwhelming  force.  Hoke's 
entire  division  of  five  thousand  five  hundred  men  was  there, 
with  its  assault  concentric  upon  us.  Again  and  again  our 
fire  swept  the  field,  cutting  fearful  winrows  in  the  enemy's 
ranks,  which,  massed  in  column  by  division,  was  pressing 
down  upon  us.  The  contest  deepened,  dealing  death  and 
destruction  along  our  line,  and  the  light  faded  almost  to 
twilight,  under  the  battle- cloud  of  smoke  which  covered  the 
sky  with  its  murky  hue.  Again  the  enemy  enveloped  our 
flanks,  and  shots  came  quartering  from  the  rear,  and  our 
invincible  line  again  faced  about,  marched  out  of  the  encir 
cling  line  and  formed  behind  an  old  rail  fence.  Here  we 
found  the  half  of  the  Fifteenth  Conn.,  which  had  been 
placed  in  reserve  the  night  previous.  Once  more  our  column 
faced  the  foe,  returning  defiant  answer  to  their  fire  and 
demand  for  surrender.  Many  of  the  Fifteenth  Conn,  joined 
manfully  in  the  fray,  and  the  enemy  again  and  again  recoiled 
before  our  trusty  rifles. 

In  this  uneven  contest,  unaided  by  a  single  piece  of  artil 
lery,  there  could  be  only  one  issue  ;  but  we  hoped  to  prolong 
the  contest  until  our  forces  at  Wise  Forks  could  afford  relief. 
From  the  first  there  had  been  for  us  no  way  of  escape,  and 
each  man  had  resolved  that,  if  overpowered,  it  would  be 


464  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

with  exhausted  ammunition,  and  with  commensurate  loss  to 
the  enemy.  The  tide  of  battle  swept  mercilessly  along  our 
front ;  both  of  our  color-bearers  had  been  shot  down,  and  the 
colors  picked  up  and  defiantly  flaunted  by  others.  Again 
the  rebels  had  reached  our  rear  and  were  endeavoring  to 
complete  their  cordon  of  investment  around  us,  when  Col. 
Bartholomew,  as  a  last  resort,  gave  the  order,  "Twenty- 
Seventh  !  rally  round  your  colors  !  "  Many  of  the  Fifteenth 
Conn,  rallied  with  us,  and  on  that  storm-rent  field  the  de 
voted  band  emulated  the  courage  and  valor  of  Thermopylae 
and  Marathon,  and  desperately  contested  the  advance  of  the 
enemy.  With  a  frenzy  born  of  despair,  they  defied  the 
enemy's  fire,  refused  to  surrender,  and  plied  their  faithful 
rifles  until  their  ammunition  was  nearly  spent.  Could  it  be 
that  aid  would  fail  ?  and  only  two  miles  distant !  Was  this 
the  reward  of  valiant  service?  "  They  must  hear,  and, 
knowing  the  weakness  of  our  column,  must  understand 
that  such  a  clash  of  arms  must  be  from  an  overwhelming 
foe,"  were  thoughts  that  crowded  the  mind. 

The  enemy  now  came  pouring  over  South- West  Creek  in 
our  rear,  seeing  which,  the  Fifteenth  Conn,  broke,  the  panic 
carrying  many  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  with  them.  Just  at 
this  moment  a  Minie-ball  crushed  through  Col.  Bartholo 
mew's  leg,  shattering  the  fibula,  or  small  bone  below  the 
knee,  and  he  fell  helpless  to  the  ground.  The  enemy,  quick 
to  discern  the  temporary  faltering  of  our  fire,  rushed  upon 
us,  and  with  one  sweep  crushed  our  column,  and  the  con 
flict  was  over.  Col.  Zachary,  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Georgia, 
received  Col.  Bartholomew's  sword,  while  the  enraged  foe 
threatened  vengeance  on  us  for  their  terrible  loss.  Adjutant 
Holmes  was  looking  at  his  watch  when  our  colonel  fell, 
finding  we  had  then  been  contending,  single  handed,  fifty-five 
minutes.  He  immediately  went  to  Col.  Bartholomew,  car 
ing  for  his  wound,  when  a  rebel  captain  came  up  ordering 
both  our  officers  to  pull  off  their  boots,  overcoats  and  hats, 


LOSSES  OF  THE  REGIMENT.  465 

give  up  their  money,  and  even  took  the  handkerchief  with 
which  the  adjutant  had  commenced  to  dress  the  colonel's 
wound.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  add,  this  act  was  severely  con 
demned  by  Col.  Zachary,  who  was  a  soldier  and  gentleman 
of  honor.  A  few  weeks  later,  Col.  Zachary  visited  Col.  Bar 
tholomew  while  in  hospital  at  High  Point,  N.  C.,  and  gener 
ously  returned  him  his  sword,  as  a  tribute  to  his  bravery 
upon  the  field.  By  permission  from  Gen'l  Hoke,  Adjutant 
Holmes  remained  with  Col.  Bartholomew  two  days,  and 
through  entreaties  with  Surgeon  Math  us  of  the  Twenty- 
Eighth  Georgia,  saved  the  colonel's  limb  from  amputation. 

The  men  broke  in  all  directions,  hoping  for  some  avenue 
of  escape,  but  were  speedily  captured  by  forces  advancing 
on  all  sides,  only  seven  men,  including  Surgeon  Fish  and 
Hospital-Steward  Parker,  escaping  from  the  field.  These, 
however,  were  all  members  of  the  Ambulance  Corps,  and 
were  cut  off  from  the  regiment  early  in  the  engagement. 
The  captured  men  were  hastily  moved  across  the  creek,  and 
marched  to  Kinston,  where  they  remained  during  the  day, 
and  at  night  were  removed  by  cars  to  Goldsboro.  The  rank 
and  file  were  thrust  into  a  cattle-pen,  and  left  for  the  night 
in  a  pouring  rain,  while  the  officers  were  confined  in  the 
court-house.  The  enemy  had  captured  in  this  engagement 
twenty-six  officers,  and  nine  hundred  and  forty  enlisted  men 
from  Upham's  Brigade,  the  loss  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass,  being  seven  killed,  forty  wounded,  and  one  hundred 
and  forty-seven  prisoners. 

The  following  is  our  list  of  casualties : 

KILLED. 

Company  A. —  Sergt.  BARTHOLOMEW  O'CONNELL,  Whatelj*. 
Company  C.  —  MICHAEL  O  'CONNER,  Fitchburg. 
Company  F.  —  Corp.  GEORGE  W.  PHILLIPS,  Sandisfield.     Louis 
H.  FULLER,  Northampton. 

Company  G.  —  Corp.  WILLIAM  J.  PAIGE,  Chicopee. 
Company  H.  —  DENNIS  DILL  WORTH,  Adams. 
Company  I.  —  HARRISON  ROWE,  Wilbraham. 


466  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

WOUNDED. 

Lieut.  Col.  W.  G.  Bartholomew,  Springfield  ;  left  leg,  fibula  broken. 
Company  A.  —  Albert  Holbrook,  Huntington ;    contusion,  leg. 
Brainard  E.  Taylor,  Worthington  ;  left  arm,  fatal. 

Company  B. — Lieut.  Daniel  W.  Lamed,  Athol ;  right  side," 
left  leg.  John  Clark,  Phillipston  ;  face,  left  arm,  side,  severe. 
Fernaldo  L.  Lord,  Athol ;  right  wrist. 

Company  C. — Lieut.  William  G.  Davis,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. ; 
left  breast.  Corp.  John  Shoals,  Amherst ;  left  leg,  amputated. 
William  Brace,  Greenfield ;  through  left  lung.  Jonathan  Bur 
roughs,  Northampton  ;  leg,  severe.  Orrin  J.  Eaton,  Deerfield  ;  left 
arm,  severe.  Oliver  Woodbridge,  Springfield ;  left  leg.  Charles 
F.  Webster,  Montague ;  jawbone  broken.  Frederick  West, 
Canton  ;  right  shoulder. 

Company  D.  —  Lieut.  Charles  H.  Bligh,  Pittsfield  ;  right  hip. 
Sergt.  Wan-en  C.  Snell,  Springfield  ;  both  hips  and  leg,  severe. 
Corp.  James  D.  Haskins,  Granby ;  right  thigh.  Alvin  R.  Brad 
ford,  Florida;  arm.  Frank  H.  Leonard,  Shutesbmy  ;  leg,  slight. 
James  H.  Reed,  Shutesbuiy ;  right  thigh.  William  H.  Snow, 
SpringGeld  ;  foot,  slight. 

Company  E,  —  Corp.  William  W.  Cummings,  Warren  ;  slight. 
George  A.  Martin,  Windsor  ;  leg,  flesh  wound.  Henry  V.  Searle, 
Westfield ;  right  leg,  severe.  Benjamin  W.  F.  Smith,  Great  Bar- 
rington  ;  right  arm.  William  Smith,  Great  Barrington  ;  right  arm, 
amputated. 

Company  F.  —  Sergt.  Calvin  J.  Treat,  Granville  ;  right  hip. 
Henry  H.  Underwood,  Sandisfield ;  shoulder.  Proctor  Woodruff, 
Westfield  ;  arm,  fatal. 

Company  G.  —  Patrick  Coffee,  Northampton;  leg  and  left 
cheek.  John  L.  Clark,  Northampton  ;  ear.  Richard  Curtis,  Hat- 
field  ;  leg.  Edward  Pendleton,  Chicopee  ;  left  ankle,  right  leg  and 
arm.  Ephraim  Wilson,  Pittsfield  ;  ear. 

Company  H. — Color-Sergt.  John  MeClear}',  South  Reading  ;  right 
shoulder,  severe.  Corp.  Horace  A.  Loomis,  Williamstown  ;  head, 
severe. 

Company  K.  —  Lieut.  William  H.  Cooley,  Springfield  ;  leg,  con 
tusion.  Corp.  William  Watt,  Belchertown  ;  hand.  Daniel  E.  Corn- 
stock,  Springfield ;  right  arm,  severe.  Jerre  Harrington,  2d, 
Springfield ;  right  leg. 


LIST    OF   THE    CAPTURED.  467 

All  of  these,  except  Ephraim  Wilson  of  Company  G,  fell 
into  the  enemy's  hands  with  the  following  list  of 

CAPTURED. 

Capt.  William  McKay,  Adjt.  Joseph  W.  Holmes,  Lieut.  Lyman, 
A.  Holmes,  Lieut.  Edwin  L.  Peck,  Chief  Musician  Linens  C.  Skin 
ner. 

Company  A.  —  Sergt.  Charles  C.  Loud,  James  Adams,  Edward 
Merrigan,  Alfred  Pasnow,  Simon  Schaefer. 

Company  B.  —  Sergt.  Prescott  M.  Metcalf,  Corp.  William  P. 
Huntoon,  Corp.  George  E.  Trask,  Corp.  Theodore  Washburn, 
Corp.  George  D.  Townsend,  John  Abbott,  Thomas  Barbour,  Jarnes 
L.  Bragdon,  Martin  O.  Makeley,  Dexter  O.  Oaks,  Valentine  O. 
Rathburn,  John  B.  Slate,  Michael  Sullivan. 

Company  C.  —  Sergt.  George  P.  Holden,  Corp.  Levi  Brizzee, 
Patrick  Ba}-ne,  Jr.,  John  Barrj-,  Jesse  D.  Comstock,  Thomas 
Craven,  Donald  Donovan,  James  C.  Fletcher,  Henry  P.  Hanchett, 
Hugh  Kennedy,  Patrick  McCabe,  Mozart  E.  Perry,  John  Pryor, 
James  Smith,  John  Sullivan,  Patrick  Sullivan,  William  Taylor, 
Michael  Talbot,  Harrison  H.  White,  Elijah  S.  Williams,  Jr., 
Charles  L.  Wright. 

Company  D.  —  Sergt.  Jay  E.  Nash,  Corp.  Warren  F.  King, 
Corp.  Newton  Pease,  Corp.  Medad  Vinton,  Rawson  C.  Briggs, 
Dexter  Burnett,  George  W.  Coleman,  John  Eagan,  George  P. 
Field,  John  K.  Freeman,  Lewis  H.  Freeman,  Eli  H.  Johnson, 
Frederick  B.  Kentfield,  John  H.  Nichols,  Cornelius  O'Connor, 
Dwight  A.  Reed,  Elmer  P.  Snow. 

Company  E.  —  Sergt.  Charles  N.  Cook,  Sergt.  Franklin  Hurst, 
Sergt.  Alonzo  H.  Conklin,  Corp.  Nelson  L.  Adams,  Corp.  Fred. 
A.  Robbing,  Henry  C.  Bacon,  Sylvadore  Beach,  Charles  Denni- 
son,  John  W.  Gilmer,  Rufus  Groat,  Joseph  W.  Huntley,  John 
Lander,  Joseph  Mattis,  Dennis  McDonough,  Thomas  W.  Norton, 
George  W.  Parish,  Alfred  C.  Turner,  Isaac  F.  Woodward. 

Company  F.  —  Sergt.  George  W.  Cone,  Sergt.  Charles  H.  Pratt, 
Corp.  Lafayette  Babb,  Henry  W.  Chatfield,  Timothy  C.  Cooney, 
Alfred  C.  Crocker,  John  Gorman,  Richard  Miller,  Ulysses  H. 
Pierce,  Amos  B.  Pomroy,  Walter  A.  Richards,  George  Welcome, 
George  Welcome,  Jr.,  David  Woodworth. 


468  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Company  G.  —  Sergt.  George  Chalmers,  Corp.  John  H.  Hannura, 
Corp.  John  Ward,  Corp.  Lorenzo  H.  Yance,  Aver}-  Bryant,  Edward 
Bride,  George  S.  Corkins,  Edward  M.  Cobb,  Daniel  Haney,  James 
Lenahan,  Elihu  Smith. 

Company  H.  —  Sergt.  S}Tdney  S.  Terry,  Corp.  Charles  H.  Rob 
ertson,  Charles  G.  Bennett,  William  Bowers,  Franklin  B.  Brayton, 
Judge  Bullard,  Leverett  Clarke,  James  Casey,  Henry  C.  Crandall, 
John  Q.  Erwin,  William  J.  Lowell,  Nelson  A.  Randall,  Albert  A. 
Talham. 

Company  I.  —  Corp.  William  Allen,  Samuel  Ashworth,  Edwin 
H.  Atwood,  Henry  Haker,  Andrew  Baird,  Jacob  Barton,  William 
H.  Chapin,  James  K.  Crosby,  William  I.  Joslyn,  Elias  S.  Keyes, 
Horace  Merritt,  Gilbert  McNall,  Loren  Wood. 

Company  K.  —  Sergt.  Joel  Meachatn,  Corp.  David  H.  Ingerson, 
Charles  Baker,  Hiram  Burlingame,  Jr.,  Harvey  H.  Converse,  John 
R.  Davis,  Wilbur  F.  Davis,  James  Dimpsey,  Francis  Fisher,  Wil 
liam  Flynn,  Patrick  Hayes,  Carl  N.  Lippman,  John  Mahoney, 
Andrew  Marian,  William  Murphy,  John  McGowan,  George  R. 
Ring,  Dennis  Sheehan,  William  S.  Tiffany. 

The  only  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass,  who  es 
caped  were  Surg.  D.  B.  N.  Fish,  Hospital  Steward  Parker, 
Privates  George  A.  Hill  and  William  Ely,  of  Company  A, 
Ephraim  Wilson,  Company  G,  D  wight  E.  Bruce,  Company 
K,  and  one  other,  now  unknown. 


COL.  WALTER  GUSTIN  BARTHOLOMEW, 

son  of  Abiel  and  Sarah  Gustin  Bartholomew,  was  born 
at  Colchester,  Conn.,  June  26,  1826.  His  educational 
advantages  were  confined  to  the  district  schools.  August, 
1849,  he  enlisted  in  the  U.  S.  Engineer  Corps,  served 
five  years  in  Company  A,  Sappers  and  Miners,  at  West 
Point  Military  Academy,  and  was  discharged  as  a  corporal 
at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  After  his 
discharge  he  located  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  was  em 
ployed  in  Thompson's  Express  Office  until  the  opening 


COLONEL   WALTER    G.    BARTHOLOMEW.  469 

of  hostilities.  On  the  organization  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  Regt.,  he  was  commissioned  captain,  with  assignment 
to  the  North  Adams  company  (H),  which  he  soon  brought 
to  such  perfection  as  to  distance  competition.  He  was  as 
signed  the  post  of  honor,  —  the  right  of  the  regiment,  — 
a  position  justly  deserved,  and  unanimously  accorded  to  him. 
On  the  resignation  of  Maj.  William  M.  Brown,  Dec.  6, 
1861,  he  was  promoted  to  fill  the  vacancy;  and  May  27, 
1863,  upon  the  resignation  of  Lieut.  Col.  Luke  Lyman, 
was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  He  was  discharged  as 
lieutenant-colonel  June  26,  1865,  but  for  conspicuous  and 
meritorious  service,  was  bre vetted  colonel. 

Col.  Bartholomew  was  an  ideal  soldier  in  appearance, 
bearing,  courage,  and  discipline.  He  was  of  commanding 
presence,  securing  obedience  by  acknowledged  superiority 
rather  than  by  brute  force.  He  presented  a  somewhat  rare 
combination  of  commander  and  comrade,  but  never  belittled 
himself  or  dishonored  his  office.  Though  nowhere  deficient, 
he  excelled  on  the  field  of  action.  No  heat  of  contest,  nor 
extremity,  seemed  able  to  disturb  his  composure,  while  no 
venture  was  too  great  to  be  hazarded.  While  holding  his 
men  by  a  genial,  personal  magnetism,  he  met  anything  like 
disorder  by  an  austerity  sure  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos. 
At  Roanoke  Island  he  checked  a  detachment,  showing  undue 
haste  in  retiring,  and  brought  them  to  an  order  and  step 
recognized  by  military  codes.  At  Goldsboro,  to  reassure 
his  men,  he  probed  the  ground  where  a  shell  had  just  buried 
itself,  and  later,  took  position  where  one  had  just  struck, 
saying,  "  They  can't  put  another  there."  In  fact  some  cool 
ness  or  fearlessness  exhibited  itself  in  every  engagement  to 
enliven  our  story  of  the  field,  or  to  add  lustre  to  our  actions. 
The  "  Battle  of  South-West  Creek,  March  8,  1865,"  exhib 
ited  him  advantageously.  Although  cut  off  from  support 
and  succor  at  the  very  outset,  and  knowing  himself  sur 
rounded  by  an  overwhelming  force,  he  transformed  his  hand- 


470  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ful  to  a  host  and  fought  Hoke's  entire  division  in  four  different 
positions,  holding  them  at  bay  a  full  hour  before  surrender. 
So  impressed  were  the  enemy  by  the  unwonted  bravery  and 
fortitude  of  Col.  Bartholomew  and  his  men,  as  before  stated, 
that  Col.  Zachary,  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Georgia  Regiment, 
who  received  his  sword,  returned  it  to  him  in  recognition 
of  distinguished  bravery. 

By  the  misfortunes  of  war  he  was  twice  a  prisoner  and  once 
severely  wounded  (March  8,  1865).  It  was  at  first  decided 
that  amputation  must  be  made,  but  the  present  of  a  silver- 
mounted  revolver  to  the  surgeon  by  Adjutant  Holmes,  made 
him  kindly  disposed  toward  the  colonel,  who  was  given  extra 
attention  in  consequence ;  and  after  the  wound  had  been 
examined  by  a  council  of  surgeons,  they  decided  that  the 
limb  could  be  saved.  The  colonel  was  overjoyed  at  this  con 
clusion  and  made  a  present  of  his  gold  watch  chain,  pre\i- 
ously  concealed  on  his  person,  to  the  surgeon.  The  wound 
was  unskilfully  dressed  by  Surgeon  Mathus  of  the  Twenty- 
Eighth  Georgia  Regiment,  and  continued  to  ulcerate  and  to 
break  out  at  intervals,  until  February,  1881,  when  it  dis 
charged  a  piece  of  leather  an  inch  square,  since  which,  it  has 
permanently  healed.  Col.  Bartholomew  enjoyed  the  un 
bounded  confidence  of  his  men,  and  had  equal  confidence 
in  their  courage  and  ability.  He  now  resides  at  Tampa, 
Fla.,  and  is  high  sheriff  and  United  States  marshal  for  that 
vicinity. 

Sergt.  Bartholomew  O'Connell  had  been  temporarily 
placed  in  command  of  Company  A,  but  was  in  reality  a 
member  of  Company  C.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Roanoke,  taken  prisoner  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  escaped  from  his 
captors  by  cutting  a  hole  through  the  cars  as  the  train 
approached  Andersonville,  made  his  way  with  Corp.  Brizzee 
to  the  Union  lines,  rejoined  his  company,  and  died  upon 
the  field  of  South- West  Creek.  His  acts  best  enshrine 
his  virtues. 


INCIDENTS    AT    SOUTH-WEST    CREEK.  471 

Color-Sergeant  John  McCleaiy  and  Color- Corporal  Wil 
liam  W.  Cummings  had  both  fallen  wounded  upon  the  field 
of  South-West  Creek,  when  our  colors  were  caught  up  and 
borne  by  Comrades  Lafayette  Babb  of  Tolland  and  Leverett 
Clarke  of  Newburyport,  during  the  continuance  of  the  engage 
ment.  Seeing  the  battle  was  likely  to  end  disastrously,  they 
rolled  the  colors  on  their  standards,  thrust  them  under  the 
side  of  an  old  rotten  log,  and  scraped  leaves  and  swamp 
grass  before  them  to  hide  them  from  sight.  Upon  the  ex 
change  of  our  men  a  month  later,  they  forwarded  informa 
tion  of  this  to  New  Berne,  and  the  colors  were  subsequently 
recovered  by  some  of  our  men  and  brought  back  to  the  regi 
ment. 

Capt.  J.  "W.  Trafton  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  had  been 
detached  for  staff  duty  with  Col.  Upham,  and  was  present 
on  the  field  when  the  enemy  first  appeared  in  our  rear. 
Taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  he  hastily  rode  to  Genl 
Palmer's  Division  by  the  only  avenue  of  escape,  informing 
him  of  the  situation  and  asking  for  aid.  This  general,  how 
ever,  was  too  fully  occupied  by  the  enemy  on  his  front,  to  be 
able  to  furnish  relief. 

Surgeon  Fish  had  established  quarters  on  the  field,  a  little 
to  the  left  of  the  regiment,  and  was  at  the  line  jestingly  try 
ing  to  effect  an  exchange  with  Lieut.  Davis, — familiarly 
known  as  "  Jeff  Davis," —  of  a  piece  of  cake  for  his  splendid 
meerschaum  pipe,  saying,  "  You  might  as  well  do  it,  Jeff, 
that  Johnnies  are  after  it,  and  you  won't  get  even  a  piece  of 
cake."  At  that  moment  a  volley  from  the  enemy  swept  the 
field,  and  Surgeon  Fish  returned  to  his  position.  Finding 
that  place  too  exposed  for  surgical  practice,  he  retired  to  the 
earthwork  at  the  corner,  but  finding  this  deserted,  with 
vicious  Minies  clipping  around  his  ears,  and  a  line  of  anx 
ious  Johnnies  in  full  charge  toward  him,  he  evacuated  the 
work  without  a  contest,  and  retreated  towards  the  railroad. 
He  writes,  "  The  memory  of  the  Twentj^-Seventh  was  always 


472          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


dear  to  me,  and  I  felt  I  showed  a  willingness  greater  than 
that  of  any  other  man,  to  preserve  its  name  and  organiza 
tion.  I  was  the  only  officer  who  had  courage  to  run  out  of, 
and  away  from  a  fight,  that  the  regiment  might  not  be 
blotted  out.  I  did  it  in  good  style,  too,  from  South- West 
Creek,  with  yellow  kids  on  my  hands  and  a  piece  of  cake 
in  my  mouth."  This  should  not  be  construed  too  literally  of 
Surgeon  Fish,  for  it  was  only  as  a  last  resort,  when  success 
had  been  reduced  to  an  impossibility,  that  the  surgeon  laid 
aside  his  surgical  appliances  and  sought  the  rear.  He  was 
uniformly  successful  in  his  ventures,  as  well  as  his  practice, 
though  we  are  obliged  to  record  a  failure  in  his  negotiations 
for  the  pipe.  Jeff  had  but  lately  returned  from  an  extensive 
Southern  trip,  and  with  keen  recollections  of  Southern  hos 
pitality,  he  was  in  no  mood  to  sacrifice  either  himself  or  his 
pipe.  It  was  of  no  use,  however ;  the  rebs  were  after  it, 
and,  as  Surgeon  Fish  predicted,  Jeff  parted  with  it  without 
even  a  piece  of  cake  in  return. 

ADJUTANT  JOSEPH  W.  HOLMES 

rendered  conspicuous  service  during  the  engagement  of 
South-West  Creek.  Fearless  of  personal  danger,  and 
realizing  the  desperateness  of  the  conflict,  he  was  through 
it  all  invaluable  to  Col.  Bartholomew  in  carrying  out 
his  orders.  When  the  colonel  was  wounded  he  stayed 
by  him  ministering  to  his  comforts  until  forced  by 
his  captors  to  join  his  fellow- officers  for  removal  to  Eich- 
mond.  Adjutant  Holmes  was  born  at  Windsor,  Conn., 
Aug.  31,  1833;  was  for  a  time  clerk  in  hotels  at  Madi 
son,  Wis.,  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  afterward  became  land 
lord  of  the  Union  House,  Springfield,  Mass.  At  the  open 
ing  of  the  war  he  was  in  business  in  New  York  City,  and 
enlisted  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  as  a  private  under  Capt.  Wil- 
cox,  Aug.  25,  1862.  He  joined  the  regiment  in  North 
Carolina,  and,  being  a  good  penman  and  systematic  in  his 


ADJUTANT   JOSEPH    W.    HOLMES.  473 

work,  he  was  appointed  adjutant's  clerk,  holding  that  posi 
tion  until  the  battle  of  Drewry's  Bluff,  when  he  was  pro 
moted  from  a  private  to  first  lieutenant,  and  appointed  adju 
tant  of  the  regiment.  His  services  to  the  end  of  the  war 
were  rendered  in  this  capacity.  He  was  exchanged  from 
Richmond,  March  26,  1865,  and  gave  personal  attention  to 
the  intricate  details  incident  to  the  settlement  of  accounts  and 
the  mustering  out  of  the  regiment.  He  retired  to  Spring 
field  where  he  engaged  in  the  insurance  business.  Meeting 
misfortune  in  1873  he  refused  to  bow  to  it,  and  labored 
hard  to  meet  his  obligations.  He  was  a  warm  friend,  gen 
erous  to  a  fault,  and  none  loved  the  old  regiment  better  than 
he.  He  died  at  his  home  Jan.  24,  1881,  leaving  a  widow  and 
three  children.  The  flags  captured  at  Drewry's  Bluff  had  just 
been  recovered,  and  our  national  colors  enfolded  the  casket 
during  the  funeral  obsequies.  Dr.  D.  B.  N.  Fish,  of  Am- 
herst,  wrote  of  him;  "We  have  met  a  great  loss  in  the 
death  of  Adjutant  Holmes  ;  I  shall  never  forget  how  we 
skirmished  about  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment  at  Arrowfield 
Church,  where  he  had  been  sent;  how  we  .moved  to  the  left, 
then  to  the  right,  and  again  to  the  left  to  avoid  the  thickly 
falling  shell,  till  he,  with  rifle  in  hand,  started  for  the  front, 
where  he  had  no  more  business  than  I ;  while  I,  true  to  my 
sense  of  duty,  started  for  the  rear." 

James  H.  Trask,  of  Company  B,  at  this  time  upon  the 
Ambulance  Corps,  attempted  to  reach  the  regiment  with 
an  ambulance  from  Wise  Forks.  He  continued  to  advance, 
under  the  impression  that  it  was  only  a  line  of  skirmish 
ers,  until  the  enemy  jumped  out  of  the  woods  for  his  horse, 
when  the  latter  suddenly  wheeled  and  bore  him  away  in 
safety,  though  the  ambulance  was  riddled  with  shot. 

Everybody  in  the  regiment,  and  a  good  many  outside  of 
it,  knew  "old  George  W."  He  could  play  "poker  "with 
the  most  expert,  and,  it  was  said,  made  enough  in  this  way 
to  afford  him  unusual  luxuries,  and  yet  to  enable  him  to 


474  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

send  home  to  his  good  wife  more  than  his  wages.  If 
George  got  full,  he  always  had  a  ten-dollar  bill  in  his 
"  west  pocket,"  to  bet  that  he  could  whip  any  man  in  the 
regiment.  He  got  into  another  camp  one  day,  and  when 
he  made  his  usual  bet,  fell  among  the  Philistines.  He  was 
used  up  badly,  and  when  he  returned  to  camp,  bleeding  and 

sore,  said,  " boys,  they  didn't  use  me  fair;  they 

doubled  up  on  me  !  "  He  was  very  careful  after  this  about 
going  among  strangers  for  a  fight.  He  went  through  nearly 
four  years  of  service ;  never  shirked  ;  and  when  captured 
at  South-West  Creek,  still  had  a  ten-dollar  bill  in  his  "west 
pocket,"  and  was  willing  to  bet  any  rebel  in  the  Confederacy 
he  could  whip  him  if  there  was  no  doubling  up  on  him. 

Of  the  contest  of  South- West  Creek  the  "  New  York 
Herald"  correspondent  wrote,  under  date  of  March  llth: 
"  They  (the  enemy)  came  upon  them  (Upham's  Brigade) 
furiously,  and  the  consequences  were,  a  large  portion  of 
the  two  regiments  were  captured,  being  outflanked  by  the 
rebels,  who  crowded  upon  their  rear  and  sides.  The  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass,  numbered  less  than  two  hundred  men,  Lieut. 
Col.  Bartholomew  being  in  command.  He  is  a  most  worthy 
officer,  and  his  command  fought  like  heroes  before  surren 
dering  ;  but  it  was  against  odds  far  too  great.  When  they 
found  themselves  surrounded  they  fought  like  Spartans, 
resorting  to  the  bayonet  when  their  ammunition  was  ex 
hausted.  They  deserved  a  more  glorious  fate  than  they 
met."  The  "  Army  and  Navy  Journal"  in  commenting  on 
the  engagement  in  its  issue  of  March  18,  1865,  says  :  "  The 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  resisted  the  shock  with  admir 
able  gallantry,  the  enemy  confessing  that  we  disputed  the 
ground  obstinately." 

Having  compassed  our  defeat,  the  enemy  assailed  the 
columns  of  Palmer  and  Carter  with  temporary  success  ;  but 
the  obstinate  contest  of  Col.  Upham's  brigade  and  our  mis 
fortune,  became  their  salvation,  in  giving  them  warning  of  and 


THE    STORY    OF    THE    PRISONERS.  475 

time  to  prepare  for  the  rebel  onset.  Palmer's  column  was 
forced  back ;  but  when  the  enemy  attempted  to  pierce  the 
gap  between  the  two  divisions,  they  were  met  by  fresh  troops 
under  Gen'l  Ruger,  who  arrived  about  4  p.  M.  The  com 
bined  Union  forces  now  re-established  their  lines  and  waited 
till  the  10th  with  some  slight  skirmishing.  The  morning  of 

o  o  o 

the  19th,  the  enemy,  being- reinforced  by  the  remainder 
of  S.  D.  Lee's  Corps  from  Hood's  army,  made  a  bold  and 
determined  attack  to  crush  the  Union  forces  before  the 
arrival  of  Couch's  Division  from  Wilmington.  Three  as 
saults  were  made,  but  they  were  decisively  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss  to  the  enemy,  while  our  total  loss  was  less  than  five 
hundred  men.  So  complete  was  the  repulse  that  upon  the 
arrival  of  Couch's  Division  on  the  llth,  the  enemy  abandoned 
the  field  and  withdrew  to  the  north  of  the  Neuse  at  Kinston, 
destroying  the  bridge  and  an  iron-clad  steamer.  Bragg 
evacuated  Kinston  the  13th,  without  a  contest,  and  Gen'l 
Schofield  occupied  it  the  same  day. 

The  story  of  our  men  captured  at  South- West  Creek,  is 
briefly  this  :  We  were  placed  upon  cars  at  Goldsboro,  the 
afternoon  of  the  llth,  arriving  at  Weldon  about  dusk.  Here 
we  bivouacked  in  the  open  air,  guarded  by  the  "  North  Caro 
lina  Reserves."  At  noon,  the  12th,  we  took  cars  for  Clarks- 
ville  Turnout,  inarched  ten  miles,  bivouacked,  and  arrived 
at  Clarksville  the  evening  of  the  13th.  The  next  morning 
a  crowd  of  young  women,  came  down  to  gaze  upon  the 
"  forlorn  Yanks."  Mrs.  Mahone,  wife  of  the  rebel  Gen'l 
Mahone,  —  now  United  States  Senator  from  Virginia  — 
and  her  two  sons,  visited  us  also,  her  whole  action  bespeak 
ing  ladylike  refinement  and  gentleness.  Marched  twenty 
miles  the  14th,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night  on  the  banks  of 
the  Dan.  At  11  A.  M.,  the  15th,  we  moved  forward,  reach 
ing  the  Danville  Railroad  at  Wolf  Trap,  having  crossed  the 
Dan  at  Nichols  Ferry.  The  16th,  marched  ten  miles  to 
"Clover  Station,"  where  Lieut.  Edwin  L.  Peck  records: 


476  TWENTY-SEVEIS7TH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

"  Bought  forty  dollars  worth  of  grub  for  supper  and  am  hun 
gry  yet."  This  march  and  the  bivouac  for  the  night  was  in 
a  drenching  rain. 

Although  all  rebels  pretended  to  hate  Uncle  Sam,  still  his 
promises  to  pay  were  held  in  high  esteem  by  them.  Under 
standing  this,  one  of  our  officers  took  advantage  of  a  good- 
natured  Georgia  lieutenant,  and  by  cautious  negotiations, 
induced  him  to  try  to  get  a  supply  of  apple-jack,  for  medi 
cine.  His  labor  of  love  was  successfully  performed  (for 
ninety  dollars),  and  about  midnight  he  returned  with  ten 
canteens  full  of  "  Southern  comfort,"  himself  well  braced 
up  by  it.  There  were  some  twenty  patients  in  the  crowd. 
The  medicine  was  given  in  ten-drop  doses,  and  as  no  spoons 
were  to  be  had,  an  officer  stood  near  the  patient,  and  every 
swallow  counted  for  a  drop.  Most  of  the  cases  were  des 
perate  and  required  frequent  doses.  A  thunder-storm 
deluged  the  tent  and  its  occupants  during  the  night,  but 
the  indications  were  that  the  crowd  had  given  the  storm 
but  little  thought,  as  they  were  wetter  inside  than  out. 

From  Clover  Station  the  rank  and  file  continued  their 
march  to  Richmond,  arriving  there  Thursday,  the  23d  inst. 
On  arriving  at  Manchester  an  officer  rode  along  the  line, 
threatening  to  shoot  any  one  attempting  to  throw  his 
personal  effects  into  the  river.  One  of  the  men  had  an  ele 
gant  gold  watch,  given  him  by  his  mother,  to  save  which  he 
hid  it  in  a  piece  of  boiled  pork,  and  passed  the  examina 
tion  without  its  discovery.  The  officers  boarded  the  roofs 
of  freight  cars  at  Clover  Station,  at  eight  A.M.,  the  17th, 
and  after  a  slow,  tedious,  and  rough  ride,  arrived  at  Man 
chester  at  three  A.  M.,  the  18th. 

The  officer  in  charge  of  the  detachment  was  ignorant  of 
the  exact  locality  of  the  "  Hotel  de  Libby,"  and  Lieut.  "W.  G. 
Davis,  having  once  been  escorted  to  that  celebrated  resort, 
had  the  pleasure  of  directing  the  column  to  its  door.  On 
arriving  at  Libby,  all  tho  men  were  stripped  and  relieved  of 


CAUSES    FOR    GRATITUDE.  477 

money,  jewelry,  and  clothing,  by  Sergt.  Ross,  acting  for 
Dick  Turner,  but  many  recovered  the  money  when  exchanged. 
The  prison  rations  issued  were  as  filthy  and  meagre  as  ever, 
but  the  deficiency  was  in  part  made  up  by  issues  from  the 
stores  held  by  Capt.  James  Stewart  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-Sixth  New  York  Regiment,  United  States  distributing 
agent  at  that  place.  This  was  a  decided  surprise  and  an  im 
provement  over  the  arrangements  for  comfort  and  supplies 
which  our  captives  enjoyed  the  May  previous.  Shoes,  socks, 
needles,  thread,  coffee,  sugar,  and  the  like,  were  issued  to 
relieve  immediate  necessity,  and  were  more  than  appreciated 
by  our  unfortunate  men. 

It  was  clear  that  an  early  release  by  parole  would  be 
granted,  and  upon  the  morning  of  Sunday,  March  26th,  we 
were  aroused  and  ordered  ready  to  leave  for  the  Union  lines. 
There  was  the  greatest  enthusiasm  as  we  moved  down  the 
street  and  embarked.  We  soon  passed  Drewry's  Bluff,  the 
scene  of  our  first  disaster ;  later  the  rebel  fleet  of  iron-clads 
below  Chapin's  Bluff,  and  at  one  p.  M.,  arrived  at  Aiken's 
Landing.  At  two  p.  M.  we  were  aboard  the  steamer  "  New 
York,"  en  route  to  Annapolis,  where  we  were  allowed  a 
thirty-day  furlough,  arriving  in  Springfield  at  eleven  o'clock 
April  3,  1865,  being  furnished  a  collation  and  night  accom 
modations  at  the  "  Soldiers'  Rest." 


473  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

CLOSE   OF   SERVICE  — NOTICES   OF   OFFICERS. 

AT  the  time  of  our  disaster,  March  8,  1865,  Major  Moore 
had  just  been  mustered  from  service,  and  Capt.  Nutting  was 
on  detached  service  as  brigade  quartermaster.  Quartermas 
ter  George  M.  Bowker  was  discharged  from  service  Feb.  11, 
1865,  and  Lieut.  Benjamin  B.  Peck,  who  had  succeeded  him, 
was  at  the  rear,  with  the  regimental  and  quartermaster 
stores  ;  so  that  there  were  still  in  North  Carolina,  Surgeon 
Fish,  Capt.  Nutting,  Lieut.  B.  B.  Peck,  and  some  thirty  en 
listed  men.  About  forty  more  were  sick,  or  upon  sick  fur 
loughs  at  the  North.  March  llth,  Capt.  Nutting  assumed 
command  of  the  regiment,  only  eight  men  reporting  for  duty. 
The  next  day  we  received  orders  to  report  at  New  Berne  for 
guard  duty  at  the  Foster  General  Hospital.  March  15th,  seven 
recruits  joined  the  regiment.  Our  camp  was  near  Fort  Tot- 
ten,  and  a  portion  of  our  men  were  temporarily  attached  to 
the  Fifth  Rhode  Island  Artillery  at  the  Fort.  April  1st, 
the  regiment  (thirty  men)  was  ordered  to  Camp  Distribu 
tion  as  guards.  This  camp,  as  its  name  suggests,  was  for  the 
temporary  accommodation  of  convalescents.  At  times  it  con 
tained  only  a  few,  and  at  other  times  thousands  of  men  en 
route  to  their  regiments. 

April  13th  we  received  news  of  the  surrender  of  Gen'l 
Lee  and  his  army,  and  it  was  currently  said,  an  order  was 
issued  that  "  if  any  member  of  the  army  was  found  sober  at 


THE  SOLDIER'S  LIFE.  479 

four  P.  M.,  he  would  be  arrested  and  court-martialled."  At 
least  the  spirit  of  such  an  order  was  to  a  large  extent  carried 
out.  Fort  Totten  and  the  navy  responded  to  our  cheers 
with  a  national  salute,  and  the  day  was  generally  celebrated 
with  mock  engagements,  speeches,  national  and  patriotic 
songs.  April  26th,  the  festivities  were  again  renewed  over 
the  surrender  of  Johnston's  army  and  the  virtual  close  of 
the  war.  A  wilder  set  of  men  never  existed,  and  the  exhi 
bitions  of  joy  manifested  never  reached  sublimer  heights. 
The  strifes  of  four  long  years,  the  sacrifice  of  blood  and  life, 
the  measureless  sufferings  of  the  crippled  and  dead,  now 
found  fruition  in  victory  and  in  an  honorable  peace. 

The  soldier's  life  was  usually  a  very  hard  or  a  very  easy 
one,  and  it  was  emphatically  so  with  our  regiment.  Its  days 
of  ease  in  camp,  garrison  or  provost  duty,  contrasted 
frequently  and  sharply  with  the  siege,  the  forced  march,  the 
bivouac  on  the  cold  and  wet  ground,  the  deadly  assault,  or 
the  horrors  of  a  prison  life.  Whenever  an  assault  must  be 
made,  or  dangerous  ground  held,  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  to  find  itself  where  shot  and  shell  flew  thick 
est  and  fastest,  where  death  reaped  its  most  abundant  harvest. 
First  on  the  field,  and  last  off  it  at  New  Berne,  Goldsboro, 
Walthall,  and  Arrowfield  ;  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  at 
Drewry's  Bluff;  one  of  the  first  to  rush  into  the  "jaws  of 
hell "  at  Cold  Harbor  ;  pouring  out  its  blood  like  water  in  the 
deadly  charge  at  Petersburg,  it  at  last  sank  in  a  sea  of  blood 
at  South- West  Creek.  With  such  hardships  and  exposure, 
it  is  no  wonder  that  the  effective  strength  of  the  command 
was  greatly  weakened  by  disease,  that  the  wounded  were  so 
many,  and  that  the  death  list  was  the  highest  of  any  infantry 
regiment  that  left  this  State  to  suppress  the  rebellion. 

As  the  furlough  of  the  paroled  men  expired  about  the 
1st  of  May,  Adjutant  Holmes  received  the  following  instruc 
tions  :  — 


480  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

BOSTON,   May  1,  1865. 

In  reply  to  your  inquiry  relative  to  men  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  now  in  the  State  as  prisoners 
paroled,  and  whose  furloughs  from  Camp  Parole,  Annapolis,  are 
about  to  expire,  it  is  deemed  advisable  —  to  save  expenses  of  trans 
porting  them  to  and  from  Annapolis  again,  —  that  they  should 
remain  in  the  State,  holding  themselves  subject  to  the  orders  of  the 
War  Department,  and  its  action  in  this  particular  case. 

F.  M.  CLARK, 
Moj.  and  A.  A.  P.  M.  G. 

The  disbanding  of  the  rebel  army  soon  filled  the 
country  with  "  Johnnies  inarching  home;"  and  as  some  of 
them  were  passing  through  New  Berne,  one  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  boys  saw  a  sword  upon  a  rebel  captain  which  looked 
familiar,  and,  using  a  soldier's  privilege,  insisted  upon  see 
ing  it,  and  thus  discovered  Adjutant  Holmes'  sword,  which 
was  promptly  taken,  and  forwarded  to  its  original  owner. 
With  the  close  of  hostilities,  Col.  Bartholomew  was  brought 
to  New  Berne,  and,  under  the  watchful  care  of  skilful 
surgeons,  was  soon  after  able  to  be  sent  North.  There  were 
now  three  hundred  seventy-three  men  at  the  North  and  in  the 
hospitals,  and  only  thirty-three  men  on  duty  in  North  Caro 
lina  ;  and  Adjutant  Holmes  applied  to  the  War  Department 
to  have  the  latter  sent  home.  On  the  6th  of  June,  before 
action  had  been  taken  on  this  request,  Capt.  McKay  and 
Lieuts.  Lyman,  E.  L.  Peck,  Bligh  and  Larned,  with  fifty 
enlisted  men,  returned  to  the  command  at  New  Berne. 

June  26th  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
New  Berne  by  Capt.  James  D.  Parker,  Assistant  Commissary 
of  Musters,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  Department 
Headquarters.  July  1st  the  regiment,  with  seven  officers 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  men,  sailed  for  the  North, 
reaching  Readville,  Mass.,  July  7,  1865.  Here,  almost 
within  sight  of  home,  a  tedious  delay  of  twelve  days  occurred 


THE    LAST    DITCH    FOUND.  481 

in  closing  the  accounts  of  the  regiment,  when  they  were 
paid  off  by  Paymaster  Holman  and  the  regiment  disbanded. 
Many  of  those  in  hospitals  at  the  North  did  not  obtain  dis 
charges  until  some  time  later.  The  last  man  discharged  was 
Spencer  C.  Wood  of  Company  A,  Easthampton.  He  went 
North  on  a  sick  leave  in  December,  1862,  and  was  never 
able  to  return.  His  papers  were  forwarded  for  discharge, 
but  were  mislaid  until  found  through  the  efforts  of  Senator 
Dawes.  He  received  his  discharge  in  January,  1881,  to 
date  from  Nov.  27,  1862. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  recount  the  successive  brilliant  achieve 
ments  of  the  Union  arms,  by  which  in  one  short  month  after 
our  last  engagement,  the  rebel  army  in  Virginia  was  forced 
to  an  unconditional  surrender ;  or  to  note  the  march  of  Gen'l 
Sherman's  victorous  host  and  the  capitulation  of  Johnston's 
army,  April  25th.  May  llth  the  last  engagement  of  the  war 
occurred  near  Palmetto  Branch,  Texas,  where  Col.  Barrett 
and  a  portion  of  the  Thirty-Fourth  Indiana  Regiment 
attacked  a  rebel  camp.  The  object  of  the  expedition  was 
accomplished  in  the  capture  and  destruction  of  the  camp. 
The  enemy,  however,  rallied,  and  forced  our  troops  to  retire 
on  Brazos.  The  same  day  Jefferson  Davis,  the  quasi  presi 
dent  of  the  Confederacy,  was  captured  by  Col.  Pritchard  and 
the  Fourth  Michigan  Cavalry,  in  that  "last  ditch  "  which 
with  so  much  flourish  the  rebs  had  declared  a  purpose  to 
defend ;  it  was  the  shawl,  raglan  and  hoop-skirt  of  Mrs. 
Davis.  "  Thus  closed  a  war  which,"  says  Jefferson  Davis, 
"commenced  and  ended  with  Confederate  victories;"  but 
as  results  were  the  fruits  we  sought,  we  do  not  care  to 
quarrel  over  his  innocent  claims,  for  the  Union  was  saved. 

It  was  a  strife  which  made  insignificant  the  greatest  wars 
of  the  past,  and  was  waged  with  triple  fury  because  of  con 
sanguinity  ;  with  forces  and  resources  commensurate  to  the 
country  and  to  the  issues  at  stake.  The  magnitude  of  the 
struggle  best  appears  as  we  recede  from  its  military  operations 


482  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

and  more  fully  understand  their  details.  To  the  anxious 
North,  the  Grant  campaigns  of  1864  and  1805  seemed  slow 
and  fruitless,  but  to-day  we  look  back  upon  them  with  won 
der.  In  eleven  months  the  exultant  army  of  Lee,  which  had 
tauntingly  defied  the  Union  arms  before  the  Rappahannock, 
was  reduced  to  abject  surrender  by  the  assaults,  manoeuvres, 
marches,  and  constant  vigilance  of  this  army,  and  Grant  did 
"  fight  it  out  on  that  line,"  though  it  took  almost  a  year.  It 
cost  the  Union  Army  operating  for  the  defeat  of  Lee's  Army 
in  Virginia,  in  1864-5,  twenty-five  thousand  slain  and 
one  hundred  thousand  wounded,  but  its  spirit  was  equal 
to  nny  sacrifice  to  accomplish  its  purpose.  From  the  be 
ginning  of  the  war  to  its  close  two  million  six  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-three  men 
had  participated  in  the  contest ;  this,  reduced  to  the  three 
years  standard,  gave  an  effective  three  years'  force  of  two 
million  one  hundred  fifty-three  thousand  six  hundred  fifty- 
seven  men.  Of  this  number,  it  is  estimated  three  hundred 
and  five  thousand  men  were  buried  upon  or  adjacent  to 
the  fields  of  battle,  irrespective  of  those  who  died  at  home. 
Nearly  an  equal  number  were  more  or  less  severely  wounded 
upon  the  field,  while  at  least  two  hundred  and  eighty-five 
thousand  were  discharged  for  disability,  and  came  back 
wrecks  of  their  former  selves,  many  of  them  only  to  die. 
These  losses,  coupled  with  the  immense  destruction  of  stores 
and  supplies,  and  the  outlay  of  billions  of  dollars,  give  a 
little  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  our  struggle. 

The  South  mustered  one  million  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  thousand  men  into  their  army  during  the  war,  and 
surrendered  at  its  close  a  total  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  thousand  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  men.  Most 
of  the  rebel  troops,  however,  dispersed  without  giving  parole. 
Lee's  army,  when  it  commenced  its  retreat  from  Petersburg, 
numbered  about  fifty  thousand  men,  though  but  little  more 
than  half  that  number  were  paroled.  The  rebellion,  then, 


Major  JOHN  W.  MOORE. 


PERSONAL   NOTICES.  483 

called  into  the  field  nearly  four  millions  of  men.  In  its 
prosecution  it  cost  the  lives  of  nearly  five  hundred  thousand 
men,  and  the  health  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  more. 
Out  of  this  struggle,  however,  in  the  prophetic  words  of 
President  Adams,  came  "a  people  fully  initiated  into  the 
family  of  nations,"  with  a  unity  and  prowess  commanding  the 
honor  and  respect  of  the  world. 

PERSONAL   NOTICES. 

MAJ.  JOHN  W.  MOORE  was  born  in  Tolland,  Hampden 
County,  Mass.,  March  12,  1830.  His  father,  Elgin  D. 
Moore,  was  a  leading  man  of  affairs  in  church  and  town, 
and,  with  his  wife,  Harriet  Wadsworth,  of  Hartford,  Conn., 
was  of  Puritan  stock  and  of  honorable  connection  with 
the  wars  of  the  Revolution  and  of  1812.  Major  Moore's 
educational  advantages  were  limited,  until,  by  his  own  effort, 
he  was  enabled  to  attend  the  Suffield  (Conn.)  Institute  and 
the  Westfield  Academy,  where  he  fitted  for  college.  He 
entered  Williams  College,  but  at  the  close  of  the  Freshman 
year  went  to  California,  remaining  until  1859.  Upon  his 
return  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Gillett  &  Stevens,  West- 
field,  Mass.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  "  Hampden  County 
Bar  "  a  year  later.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he 
was  attending  Harvard  Law  School.  When  authority  was 
given  to  Col.  Lee  to  raise  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment, 
Major  Moore  offered  to  assist  in  recruiting  a  company,  and, 
succeeding,  was  commissioned  as  a  first  lieutenant  in  that 
company.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Capt.  Thayer,  Lieut. 
Moore  was  promoted  to  captain.  After  the  death  of  Major 
Walker,  while  upon  the  return  to  White-House  Land 
ing,  June  12,  1864,  he  was  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
regiment,  and  soon  after  received  his  commission  as  major, 
dated  June  4,  1864.  Major  Moore  participated  in  all  the 
engagements  of  the  regiment  until  June  18,  1864,  at  which 
time  he  was  wounded,  and  went  North.  He  returned  to  the 


484  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

regiment  before  Petersburg  early  in  September,  and  com 
manded  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Vois.  on  its  return  to 
North  Carolina,  and  until  Lieut.  Col.  Bartholomew  rejoined 
the  regiment  in  the  November  following.  Soon  after  the 
return  of  Col.  Bartholomew,  Major  Moore  tendered  his 
resignation,  because  of  ill-health,  and  because  the  few  men 
connected  with  the  regiment  did  not  require  the  retention  of 
two  field  officers  ;  but,  owing  to  the  cotton  difficulty  (re 
corded  on  page  453),  the  resignation  was  not  accepted  until 
March  8,  1865.  Major  Moore  flatly  refused  to  be  bled  for 
the  benefit  of  speculators  within  or  outside  of  the  army. 
Finally,  upon  a  declaration  that  the  entire  correspondence 
would  be  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  unless  some  decisive 
action  was  taken  by  Gen'l  Palmer,  Major  Moore  secured 
the  acceptance  of  his  resignation.  Major  Moore  has  lived 
in  California,  Moniteau  County,  Missouri,  since  1865.  He 
has  served  four  years  as  a  circuit  attorney  for  the  First 
Judicial  Circuit  of  Missouri,  and  has  now  a  large  and  lucra 
tive  law  practice. 

COL.  JOSEPH  H.  NUTTING,  of  Greenfield,  Mass.,  was  a 
clerk  in  a  grocery  store,  and  after  aiding  in  enlisting  the 
Greenfield  company  (C)  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant 
Oct.  16,  1861.  Upon  the  promotion  of  Capt.  Walker  to 
major,  Lieut.  Nutting  was  promoted  to  his  place.  May  11, 
1865,  Capt.  Nutting  was  commissioned  as  major,  and  May 
15,  1865,  for  conspicuous  and  meritorious  action,  was 
bre vetted  lieutenant-colonel.  Col.  Nutting  was  one  of  the 
few  always  to  be  relied  upon,  and  his  bearing  upon  the  field 
was  courageous  and  inspiring.  He  was  present  in  all  our  con 
tests  until  May  16,  1864,  when,  with  nine  other  officers,  he 
was  made  prisoner.  He  escaped  from  the  enemy  at  Colum 
bia,  S.  C.,  as  already  narrated.  After  a  short  leave  of 
absence  he  rejoined  the  regiment,  filling  responsible  posi 
tions  with  credit  to  himself,  and  giving  special  attention  to 


PERSONAL    NOTICES.  485 

the  final  musteriug-out  and  discharge  of  the  regiment.  Col. 
Nutting's  entire  service  reflected  honor  upon  himself  and  the 
regiment.  His  sword,  captured  from  him  at  Drewry's 
Bluff,  May  16,  1864,  was  recaptured  with  Jefferson  Davis 
and  party,  and  was  returned  to  Col.  Nutting. 

CAPT.  GEORGE  W.  BARTLETT,  first  adjutant  of  our  regi 
ment,  was  a  native  of  Bath,  Me.,  and  a  graduate  of  Dart 
mouth  College  in  1856.  He  was  principal  of  the  Deerfield 
Academy  in  1857  ;  read  law  with  Hon.  Thomas  Jenks  in 
1858  ;  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1859. 
He  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Greenfield,  Mass.,  and  at 
various  times  was  associated  with  Alvord  &  Wells,  Judge 
C.  C.  Conant,  and  E.  E.  Lyman,  Esq.,  all  of  that  town.  He 
received  well-merited  promotion  to  captain  for  gallantry  on 
the  field,  while  his  legal  abilities  were  recognized  in  appoint 
ments  as  judge-advocate  and,  later,  as  provost-marshal  of 
the  District  of  Beaufort.  Capt.  Bartlett  possessed  a  well- 
balanced  mind,  with  finished  scholarly  attainments.  He 
was  a  self-made  man,  of  good  parts,  close  in  application, 
patient  in  detail,  and  independent  in  thought.  He  was  fear 
less  upon  the  field  and  fond  of  adventure.  At  the  close  of 
his  service  he  returned  to  his  profession  at  Greenfield,  and 
June  7,  1865,  married  Mrs.  Frances  Gregg  Smith,  a  grand 
daughter  of  Hon.  Daniel  Webster.  He  served  as  a  repre 
sentative  in  the  Mass.  General  Court  in  1865,  and  subse 
quently  as  an  assistant  assessor  of  the  Ninth  District.  He 
died  Feb.  4,  1873,  needing  no  better  monument  than  the 
court  records  of  Franklin  County.  The  following  resolutions 
were  adopted  by  the  court,  March  23,  1873,  and  an  adjourn 
ment  ordered  for  the  day,  in  honor  of  his  memory  :  — 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  his  associates,  bear  testimony  to  his 
learning  and  ability  as  a  lawyer,  his  uniform  courtesy  and  upright 
ness  in  all  his  professional  duties,  as  well  as  his  untiring  zeal  and 
faithfulness  to  his  clients  and  fidelity  to  the  courts. 


486  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

-  Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Bartlett  the  county  and  com 
munity  have  lost  a  citizen  of  much  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  a 
firm  friend  of  education  and  progress,  and  that  his  memory  will 
be  kindly  cherished. 

SURGEON  D.  B.  N.  FISH.  Jan.  23,  1863,  the  hospital 
staff  was  reinforced  by  Assistant  Surgeon  D.  B.  N.  Fish, 
who  had  been  appointed  January  5th  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  death  of  Assistant  Surgeon  Hunt.  He  remained  with 
the  regiment  to  the  end,  and  was  deservedly  promoted  until 
he  stood  in  the  place  of  our  renowned  Surgeon  Otis.  Al 
though  suffering  much  of  the  time  from  fever  and  ague, 
Surgeon  Fish  was  with  us  on  every  march  and  in  every 
battle  from  this  time  until  our  last  eng-ao-ement,  March  8, 

O     o  " 

1865.  Even  during  Surgeon  Otis'  and  Assistant  Surgeon 
Hubon's  connection  with  us,  he  was  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  time  in  charge  of  the  regiment,  —  the  former  officers 
being  upon  detached  service.  During  the  trying  campaign 
of  1864  he  followed  us  with  untiring  zeal  upon  every  move 
ment,  having  plead  for  relief  from  a  most  flattering  posi 
tion  as  surgeon  at  the  Corps  hospital,  that  he  might  share 
the  fortunes  and  lighten  the  misfortunes  of  our  men.  Sur 
geon  Fish  was  born  in  Arnherst,  Mass.,  in  1838.  He 
entered  Amherst  College  in  1858,  but  on  account  of  a  hemor 
rhage  of  the  lungs  was  obliged  to  leave  at  the  end  of  the 
Freshman  year.  He  graduated  in  medicine  at  Berkshire 
Medical  College  in  1862.  He  was  soon  after  offered  his 
choice  of  position  as  assistant  surgeon  either  of  the  Tenth  or 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regiments.  He  chose  the  latter,  and 
became  at  once  a  most  valued  and  trusted  officer,  and  to  his 
unremitting  care  many  of  our  number  owe  their  exemption 
from  the  disabilities  incident  to  war.  Surgeon  Fish  now 
resides  in  Amherst,  Mass.,  and  holds  an  enviable  position 
as  a  physician  and  surgeon. 


PERSONAL    NOTICES.  487 

CAPT.  PARK  W.  McMANUS  was  from  Davenport,  Iowa, 
but  in  1861  was  a  member  of  the  Junior  Class  at  Amherst 
College.  He  had  no  former  military  experience,  and,  for  that 
matter,  needed  but  little,  as  he  was  a  born  soldier,  with  a 
commanding  presence  and  a  courage  equal  to  any  emergency. 
He  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  Com 
pany  B.  Upon  the  death  of  Adjt.  E.  D.  Lee  he  was 
appointed  adjutant,  and  was  serving  as  such  when  captured, 
May  16,  1864.  After  an  extended  acquaintance  with  rebel 
prisons  he  made  his  escape,  as  narrated  in  this  work.  Capt. 
McMaims  participated  in  all  our  battles,  until  his  capture, 
and  resigned  his  commission  Dec.  31,  1864.  He  now  re 
sides  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  has  represented  his  constitu 
ents  in  the  State  legislature. 

CAPT.  GUSTAVE  A.  FULLER  was  for  several  years  a  non 
commissioned  officer  in  the  Springfield  City  Guard,  and 
was  commissioned  captain  with  an  assignment  to  the  Pitts- 
field  company  (E) .  His  company  was  given  the  second  posi 
tion  in  rank  —  the  left  of  the  line  —  for  proficiency  in  the 
school  of  soldiers.  After  passing  through  the  battles  of 
Roanoke  Island  and  New  Berne,  he  resigned  his  commission 
July  22,  1862.  After  the  war  Capt.  Fuller  became  a  prom 
inent  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  New  York  City,  and  the 
proprietor  of  Fuller's  Express.  He  died  at  New  York  City 
Jan.  18,  1883,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors  by  the 
Old  Guard  in  Woodlawn  Cemetery. 

CAPT.  HORACE  K.  COOLEY  served  as  a  private  in  the  Mex 
ican  war,  and  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  was  a  member  of  the  Springfield 
City  Guards.  He  assisted  in  the  recruiting  of  the  Spring 
field  company  (K),  and  was  commissioned  as  captain.  He 
was  present  in  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Island,  New  Berne, 
Kinston,  Whitehall,  Goldsboro,  and  the  siege  of  Washing- 


488  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

ton.  In  November,  1862,  he  was  in  command  of  the  out 
post  at  Bachelor's  Creek,  and  though  surrounded  by  the 
enemy,  he  defended  his  position  until  their  retreat,  for  which 
he  received  special  mention  by  the  commanding  general. 
Pie  resigned  his  commission  on  account  of  disability,  April 
29,  1863,  and  now  resides  at  Somerville,  Mass. 

CAPT.  R.  EIPLEY  SWIFT  was  for  several  years  a  sergeant 
in  the  Springfield  City  Guards,  and  previous  to  the  outbreak 
of  the  rebellion  was  a  photographer  at  Chicopee,  Mass.,  and 
an  agent  of  Thompson's  Express  Company.  He  recruited  for 
his  company  at  Chicopee,  and  was  commissioned  captain  of 
the  same,  Oct.  16,  1861.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  New  Berne,  and  though  he  never  fully  recovered  from 
the  consequent  disability,  he  rejoined  the  regiment ;  and  dur 
ing  the  time  it  was  scattered  upon  outpost  duty,  served  as 
quartermaster  for  one  of  the  detachments.  Later,  he  entered 
the  field  with  his  company,  and  was  captured  before  Drew- 
ry's  Bluff,  May  16,  1864.  He  was  exchanged  in  March, 
1865,  and  discharged  from  service  March  12,  1865.  Capt. 
Swift  was  accidently  drowned  at  Springfield  during  the 
summer  of  1879. 

CAPT.  TIMOTHY  W.  SLOAN  of  Amhcrst,  was  formerly  an 
officer  in  the  Mass.  State  Militia,  and  when  that  town  de 
cided  to  raise  a  company  for  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  he 
was  naturally  selected  as  its  leader.  In  company  with  Ami 
R.  Dennison  of  Amherst  College,  and  J.  Leander  Skinner, 
he  raised  a  company  of  men,  second  to  none  in  the  regiment. 
He  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  this  company,  and  after 
participating  in  the  battles  of  Roanoke  Island  and  New 
Berne,  resigned  by  reason  of  disability,  Nov.  15,  1862 
Capt.  Sloan  is  a  shoe  merchant,  and  resides  at  Amherst> 
Mass. 

CAPT.  ADIN  W.   CASWELL  was  also  connected  with  our 


PERSONAL    NOTICES.  489 

State  militia ;  and  upon  the  opening  of  hostilities,  was  a 
shoe  manufacturer  at  Gardner,  Mass.  He  had  recruited  a 
company  at  Athol  and  Gardner,  expecting  to  join  some 
Worcester  County  regiment ;  but  in  the  absence  of  such  an 
opportunity  the  company  was  offered  to  and  accepted  by  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  Capt.  Caswell  served  his  full 
term,  and  was  present  in  all  our  battles  save  that  at  Drew- 
ry's  Bluff,  at  which  time  he  was  disabled  by  a  wound  re 
ceived  at  Arrowfield  Church.  As  a  remarkable  fact  he  never 
asked  for  or  received  a  leave  of  absence.  He  was  discharged 
by  reason  of  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Nov. 
19,  1864.  He  still  resides  at  Gardner,  Mass. 

CAPT.  WILLIAM  H.  TYLER,  our  first  quartermaster,  was  in 
business  at  North  Adams  when  appointed  to  that  position  by 
Governor  Andrew.  He  had  had  no  former  military  experi 
ence.  It  is  a  sufficient  comment  upon  his  worth  to  record 
that  upon  the  organization  of  Stevenson's  Brigade,  Jan.  1, 
1863,  Lieut.  Tyler  was  selected  for  his  staff.  He  was  pro 
moted  to  captain  and  commissary  of  subsistence,  U.  S.  V., 
and  continued  with  that  brigade  until  he  was  discharged 
from  service.  He  died  at  North  Adams  near  the  close  of 
the  war. 

CAPT.  HENRY  C.  DWIGHT  was  a  native  of  Northampton, 
Mass.,  and  a  descendant  of  a  time-honored  family.  Though 
a  young  man  with  flattering  prospects,  he  relinquished  all  at 
the  call  of  his  country,  and  was  influential  in  recruiting  the 
Northampton  company.  Moved  by  an  earnest  enthusiasm, 
ho  first  took  a  subordinate  position,  but  received  the  first 
promotion  given  in  the  regiment,  and  was  rapidly  advanced 
to  captain,  commanding  Company  A.  In  this  position  he 
served  until  May  16,  1864,  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor 
to  the  regiment.  While  lying  with  his  company  before 
Drewry's  Bluff,  the  night  previous  to  the  battle,  he  received 


490  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Special  Order  No.  27,  Headquarters  Eighteenth  Army  Corps, 
ordering  him  to  report  forthwith  to  Capt.  John  Hall,  Chief 
Commissary  of  Subsistence.  Although  the  order  was  com 
plimentary  to  Capt.  Dwight,  he  was  indisposed  to  leave  his 
command,  feeling  confident  that  a  desperate  battle  was  im 
pending.  The  order,  however,  was  imperative,  and  in  obey 
ing  it,  he  escaped  the  consequences  of  that  battle,  and  re 
mained  until  the  close  of  his  term,  Sept.  28,  1864,  as  cap 
tain  and  assistant  commissary  of  subsistence,  Eighteenth 
Army  Corps.  Capt.  Dwight's  intelligent,  courageous,  patri 
otic  service,  with  his  genial,  self- forgetful  spirit,  inspired 
universal  confidence  and  regard.  He  still  is  one  of  our  most 
popular  comrades,  and  has  a  keen  interest  in  all  that  per 
tains  to  our  regiment,  He  resides  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  has 
been  honored  by  his  constituents  with  municipal  and  pecu 
niary  trusts,  and  is  now  a  large  and  successful  manufacturer. 

CAPT.  PETER  S.  BAILEY  was  prominent  in  the  enlistment 
of  the  Chicopee  company,  and  was  commissioned  its  first 
lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  captain,  Feb.  17,  1864, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Amherst  company. 
He  escaped  the  disaster  which  befell  our  regiment,  May  16, 
1864,  being  at  the  time  upon  the  picket  line.  He  was 
wounded  at  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  1864,  and  subsequently 
held  command  of  the  regiment  before  Petersburg,  Va.  He 
was  discharged  from  service  Dec.  17,  1864,  and  now 
resides  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  holding  the  responsible  posi 
tion  of  treasurer  of  the  Hampden  Savings  .Bank. 

CAPT.  J.  LEANDER  SKINNER  was  born  in  Jamaica,  Vt.,  Nov. 
29,  1838.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Brookfield  and  Ware, 
Mass.,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  war  was  a  clerk  in  the  store 
of  A.  &  B.  W.  Allen,  of  Amherst.  His  first  enlistment, 
from  lack  of  numbers  to  organize  a  company,  proved  of  no 
avail.  Upon  the  next  call  for  troops  he  himself  deter- 


PERSONAL    NOTICES.  491 

mined  to  try  to  raise  a  company.  In  company  with  three 
associates,  he  canvassed  Amherst  and  the  adjoining  towns, 
and  in  two  weeks  the  ranks  were  full.  Although  fairly 
entitled  to  a  commission,  he  accepted  the  position  of  first 
sergeant  and  by  successive  promotions  was  made  captain, 
Sept.  29,  1864.  As  a  matter  of  principle,  Capt.  Skinner 
never  absented  himself  from  duty.  He  shared  in  all  our 
battles  until  May  16,  1864,  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  at  which 
place  he  was  captured,  and  suffered  imprisonment  at  Macon, 
Ga.,  and  Charleston  and  Columbia,  S.  C.  He  escaped 
from  Columbia  Nov.  4,  1864 ;  was  recaptured  four  days 
later,  but  re-escaped  November  29th,  and  made  his  way 
to  our  blockading  squadron  off  the  mouth  of  the  Santee 
River.  He  reached  Fortress  Monroe  about  Jan.  1,  1865. 
Jan.  21,  1865,  by  Special  Order,  No.  33,  from  the  War  De 
partment,  he  was  mustered  out  of  service,  to  date  from  Dec. 
31,  1864.  Capt.  Skinner  subsequently  served  as  the  post 
master  of  Amherst  and  is  now  residing  in  Sacramento,  Cal. 
He  has  recently  received  his  sword,  captured  at  Drewry's 
Bluff,  through  the  kindness  of  a  lady  of  South  Carolina. 

LIEUT.  JAMES  H.  FOWLER,  son  of  Charles  C.  Fowler, 
Esq.,  of  Westfield,  Mass.,  was  born  at  that  place,  Dec. 
2,  1839.  At  the  opening  of  the  war,  he  was  in  the 
hardware  business  in  Boston.  He  responded  at  once  to  the 
call  for  volunteers  ;  but  so  general  was  the  response,  that 
but  a  small  number  of  the  companies  offered  to  the  Govern 
ment  were  accepted.  While  connected  with  one  of  these 
unaccepted  companies,  he  became  an  adept  in  the  manual  of 
arms  and  company  movements,  so  that  when  he  received  his 
commission  as  second  lieutenant  in  our  regiment,  Oct.  16, 
1864,  he  had  but  few  superiors  as  a  drill-master.  He  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  Jan.  2,  1862  ;  served  for  a  time 
as  adjutant;  and  during  the  campaign  of  1864,  as  commis 
sary  of  subsistence  upon  Gen'l  Stannard's  staff.  He  was 


492  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

discharged  Sept.  28,  1864  ;  re-engaged  in  business  at  Boston, 
and  died  Oct.  12,  1877. 

LIEUT.  WILLIAM  G.  DAVIS  was  a  resident  of  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  but  being  at  Greenfield  at  the  time  of  the  enlistment 
of  Company  C,  joined  the  same  as  its  first  sergeant.  He 
was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  May  2,  1863,  and  to 
first  lieutenant,  June  4,  1864.  He  was  captured  at 
Drewry's  Bluff  and  after  six  months'  imprisonment  made 
good  his  escape,  as  narrated  in  this  work.  He  rejoined  the 
regiment  in  North  Carolina ;  participated  in  the  battle  of 
South-West  Creek  where  he  was  again  captured,  and  upon 
re-arriving  at  Richmond,  had  the  pleasure  of  piloting  the 
party  to  Libby  Prison,  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  prisoners 
not  knowing  its  location.  Comrade  Davis  was  among  those 
who  suffered  from  "sunstroke"  upon  the  Mary  Dunn  farm, 
May  7,  1864;  the  result  of  this  has  been  a  temporary 
insanity,  and  at  the  time  of  our  writing  he  is  an  inmate  of 
fin  asylum  at  Jacksonville,  111. 

LIEUT.  JUSTUS  LYMAN,  son  of  Waldo  Lyman  of  Easthamp- 
ton,  was  in  direct  descent  from  one  of  New  England's 
earliest  and  best  families.  He  enlisted  in  Company  A, 
received  a  warrant  as  sergeant,  and  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant,  Feb.  17,  1864,  and  to  first  lieutenant,  June  5, 
1864.  Two  of  his  brothers  enlisted  in  this  regiment,  one  of 
whom  died,  December,  1862  ;  the  other  was  discharged  for 
disability.  Lieut.  Lyman  was  assigned  to  Company  B,  and 
was  in  command  of  the  same  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  where  he 
was  captured.  After  ten  months'  imprisonment  he  was  ex 
changed  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.  He  rejoined  his  regiment 
but  hostilities  having  ceased,  he  saw  no  further  service.  He 
now  resides  at  Easthanipton,  Mass. 

LIEUT.   EDWIN  L.   PECK,   son  of  Capt.  Noah    Peck  —  a 


PERSONAL   NOTICES.  493 

former  officer  of  the  State  militia  from  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  — 
was  born  at  Seekonk,  Mass.,  Feb.  10,  1839.  In  1859 
he  attended  the  Westfield  Normal  School,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  I860,  and  was  residing  in  Westfield  when 
the  war  broke  out.  He  received  a  sergeant's  warrant, 
but  by  conspicuous  and  gallant  service  won  commis 
sions  as  first  lieutenant  and  brevet  captain.  Lieut. 
Peck  was  engaged  in  every  battle  and  nearly  every  skirmish 
in  which  the  regiment  participated.  With  a  great  love  for 
adventure,  he  was  ready  for  any  service  ;  and  with  courage 
and  coolness  was  equal  to  any  emergency.  He  was  not  only 
a  man  of  culture  and  of  social  parts,  but  in  turn  a  Nasby  and  a 
Delmonico.  He  was  in  command  of  Company  F  during  the 
last  year  of  its  service.  He  escaped  capture  at  Drewry's 
Bluff,  and  was  constantly  at  the  front  at  Cold  Harbor  and 
Petersburg,  but  was  captured  at  South-West  Creek  March 
8,  1865.  He  now  resides  at  Westfield,  Mass. 

LIEUT.  JOHN  H.  JUDD  was  a  plumber  at  Easthampton,  and 
received  a  warrant  as  secpnd  sergeant  upon  entering  Com 
pany  A.  He  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  Jan.  2, 1863, 
and  to  first  lieutenant  May  17,  1864.  By  the  order  detailing 
Capt.  D wight  to  other  service,  he  was  left  in  command  of 
the  Northampton  company  before  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  suffered 
capture,  with  imprisonment  for  ten  months.  While  being 
moved  from  point  to  point  in  advance  of  Sherman's  victori 
ous  army,  he  eluded  his  guard  and  remained  concealed  until 
"  Sherman's  bummers  "  arrived,  wrhen  he  joined  the  victorious 
column  and  reached  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  the  middle  of  March, 
1865.  Lieut.  Judd  now  resides  at  Easthampton,  Mass. 

We  have  spoken  freely  of  the  officers  of  our  regiment, 
and  the  many  prominent  places  held  by  them.  It  would  be 
gross  injustice  to  neglect  to  say  of  our  enlisted  men,  that,  as 
a  whole,  they  were  men  of  sterling  worth,  many  of  whom  in 


494  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

due  time  were  advanced  to  commissioned  officers  in  our  own 
and  other  regiments,  or  held  responsible  positions  in  the 
departments  with  which  they  were  connected.  Among 
those  prominent  in  responsible  service  were  :  Ashiel  B.  Nor- 
cross,  of  Company  C,  who  was  the  military  superintendent 
and  master  mechanic  of  the  railroad  from  New  Berne  to 
Beaufort ;  and  William  P.  Derby,  of  Company  A,  military 
postmaster,  in  charge  of  the  mail  service  in  the  Department 
of  North  Carolina.  Solon  M.  Allis  was  prominent  in  the 
engineer  department ;  George  O.  Spooner  in  the  commis 
sary  department ;  Albert  M.  Macomber  in  the  ordnance 
department;  Charles  H.  Rust  in  the  provost  marshal's 
office,  and  Luther  W.  Fisher,  with  a  score  of  others,  in  the 
quartermaster's  department.  Many  of  the  bravest  and  best 
of  those  serving  in  our  regiment  will  unfortunately  find  no 
special  personal  mention  herein,  because  of  our  lack  of  the 
needed  information.  So  varied  were  the  attainments  and 
the  previous  callings  of  our  rank  and  file,  that  from  them 
any  position  could  be  filled,  or  any  demand  be  satis 
fied,  with  competent  men.  We  w,ere  able  to  furnish  law 
yers,  teachers,  clerks  and  musicians ;  to  supply  dentists, 
jewellers,  artists,  printers,  tailors  and  barbers  :  and  we  had 
architects,  builders,  masons,  machinists  and  engineers,  with 
millers,  bakers  and  farmers,  to  meet  any  possible  requisition. 
It  was  through  noble  emulation  and  courage  along  the  line 
that  success  in  battle  was  most  often  attained ;  and  the  deeds 
recorded  in  this  work  were  those  of  men  who  were  moved  by  an 
intelligent  and  consecrated  patriotism.  No  bounty  tempted 
them  to  enlist  in  1861,  but  enthused  by  an  intense  love  for 
their  country,  they  rushed  to  arms  at  its  first  call,  and  held 
no  service  too  arduous,  and  no  risk  too  great,  to  rescue  the 
land  of  their  love.  It  was  with  such  patriotism  that  the 
nations  of  the  world  were  struck  with  wonder  and  awe;  it 
was  to  such  men  that  our  Union  looked  with  confidence  for 
its  redemption. 


SURGEON  GEORGE  A.  OTIS.  495 


CHAPTEK  XXV. 

MEDICAL. 

BY    SURGEON   FISH   AND    STEWARD   FULLER. 

"  It  may  be  said  there  was  no  branch  of  the  service  in  the  whole  army,  unless  it 
be  that  of  the  chaplains,  which  understood  and  performed  its  duties  so  •well  as  the 
regimental  surgeons  —  all  physicians  by  profession."  —  COUNT  OF  PARIS  in  "  Civil 
War  in  America." 

WHATEVER  praise  is  due  the  medical  department  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  for  faithful  and  intelligent  discharge  of 
duty,  should  be  credited  largely  to  the  example  and  teach 
ings  of  the  first  surgeon  of  the  regiment  —  Dr.  Otis. 

Dr.  George  Alexander  Otis,  surgeon  of  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  was  born  at  Boston,  Nov.  12,  1830. 
He  was  educated  in  letters  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  in  medi 
cine  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  At  the  latter  place, 
he  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  ;  but  con 
tinued  his  medical  studies  at  London  and  Paris.  Upon 
returning  to  this  country  in  1856,  he  became  editor  of  the 
Richmond  (Va.)  "  MedicalJournal,"  continuing  as  such  until 
1859.  He  then  located  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  entered  into 
the  general  practice  of  medicine,  and  soon  became  distin 
guished  for  his  skill  and  success  in  the  practice  of  surgery. 
When  Col.  Lee  received  authority  to  raise  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.,  he  knew  to  whom  to  look  for  a  sur 
geon.  Results  amply  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  choice,  for 
Dr.  Otis  not  only  became  the  surgeon  of  this  regiment,  but 
the  surgeon  of  the  war.  Surgeon  Otis  nominally  served  the 


496  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  until  July  20,  1864,  but  his  dis 
tinguished  fitness  caused  him  to  be  frequently  absent  on  spe 
cial  duty  as  medical  director  or  purveyor  of  North  Carolina, 
surgeon  of  the  steamer  "  Cosmopolitan"  in  South  Carolina, 
or  medical  director  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  in  1863  and  1864.  In 
the  spring  of  1864,  Surgeon  Otis  was  ordered  to  Washington, 
D.  C.,  for  examination  for  the  corps  of  volunteer  surgeons. 
His  examination  was  so  brilliant  that  the  surgeon-general 
assigned  him  at  once  to  the  charge  of  the  "  Bureau  of  Sur 
gical  Records  "  and  to  the  curatorship  of  the  "  Army  Medi 
cal  Museum."  These  positions  were  held  by  him  until  his 
death,  Feb.  23,  1881. 

While  connected  with  the  Bureau  of  Surgical  Records, 
Dr.  Otis  published  several  important  monographs  on  surgi 
cal  subjects,  the  two  most  important  being  on  "  Excision  of 
the  Head  of  the  Femur"  and  "Amputation  at  the  Hip 
Joint."  The  work,  however,  of  highest  lustre  to  his  name, 
and  which  has  made  him  the  most  celebrated  writer  on  mili 
tary  surgery  in  all  lands  is  "The  Surgical  History  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,"  in  three  royal  quarto  volumes,  of 
about  one  thousand  pages  each.  Two  volumes  had  been 
published,  and  the  third  was  ready  for  the  printers  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  Surgeon  Otis  was  fitted  by  education 
and  talents  to  take  the  foremost  place  in  the  surgical  depart 
ment  of  the  army.  Wherever  he  was,  his  genius  and 
animating  spirit  was  felt  and  acknowledged.  Not  only  did 
he  excel  as  a  surgical  writer,  but  so  skilful  were  all  of 
his  operations,  that  he  was  appointed  by  Medical  Director 
Church,  of  the  Department  of  North  Carolina,  as  one  of  an 
advisory  board  of  three,  to  pass  upon  all  cases  requiring 
superior  surgery.  His  education  was  thorough,  his  will 
indomitable,  his  courage  unquestioned,  his  industry  what 
would  be  called  "  the  two  o'clock  of  the  night  kind."  He 
knew  the  works  of  Ferguson  and  Baron  Larrey  almost  by 
heart.  He  was  accurate  in  prognosis,  definite  and  per- 


OUR    HOSPITAL   BEGINNINGS.  497 

spicuous  in  details  ;  and  he  despised  mediocrity  and  incom- 
petency. 

With  subordinates,  Surgeon  Otis  encouraged  self-respect, 
never  countermanding  their  orders,  yet  seeing  to  it  that  any 
infraction  of  instructions  was  corrected  by  the  one  respon 
sible.  Surgeon  Otis  was  generous  to  a  fault,  royal  in  his 
likes  and  dislikes,  yet  willing  to  acknowledge  an  error  and 
to  make  the  honorable  amend.  Impulsive  and  intuitive  in 
his  perceptions,  still  he  was  clear  in  his  directions.  He 
allowed  no  excuse  for  mistakes,  but  if  a  blunder  was  not 
repeated  it  was  never  referred  to  afterward.  He  remem 
bered  only  that  the  end  and  aim  of  his  profession  was  the 
relief  of  human  sufferings. 

Dr.  George  A.  Otis  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  John 
A.  Andrew  as  surgeon  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regt., 
Sept.  11,  1861. 

Subsequently,  he  held  the  following  commissions  :  As 
sistant  surgeon  U.  S.  Vols.,  June  30,  1864;  surgeon  U.  S. 
Vols.,  Aug.  30,  1864;  assistant- surgeon  and  captain  II.  S. 
A.,  Feb.  28,  1866;  surgeon  and  major  U.  S.  A.,  March 
17, 1880.  He  was  also  brevetted  lieutenant-colonel  of  U.  S. 
Vols.,  and  later,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  United  States 
Army. 

The  story  of  our  hospital  beginnings  is  best  told  by  the 
following  letter  from  Surgeon  Otis  to  the  Surgeon-General 
of  Massachusetts  :  — 

"  SPKIXGPIELD,  MASS.,  Oct.  5,  1861. 

Camp  Reed  was  established  on  Saturday,  September  21st.  The  follow 
ing  night  was  cold  and  rainy;  but  on  Monday,  the  23d,  the  weather  was 
again  fair,  and,  except  for  a  shower  on  the  afternoon  of  the  26th  ult., 
there  has  been  no  interruption  of  the  fine  weather  until  to-day,  when  we 
are  again  annoyed  by  an  easterly  wind  and  occasional  rain.  Lieut.  Col. 
Lyman  has  been  in  command,  and  has  been  constantly  on  the  ground, 
sharing  the  rations  and  occupying  similar  quarters  to  those  of  the  men. 
He  has  shown  an  intelligent  interest  in  everything  concerning  the  hygienic 
welfare  of  the  regiment,  and  has  lent  a  willing  ear  to  all  my  suggestions 
on  this  point.  For  the  first  week  the  force  on  the  ground  averaged  about 


498  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

three  hundred;  for  the  last  week,  from  six  hundred  to  seven  hundred. 
Last  night  I  understand  there  were  seven  hundred  and  fifty-two  rank  and 
file  in  the  camp.  For  the  first  few  days  after  their  arrival  the  men  were 
very  subject  to  slight  diarrhoea,  and  there  were  some  cases  aggravated 
by  neglect,  but  still  very  amenable  to  treatment.  The  men  unprovided 
with  flannel  were  most  liable  to  diarrhoea.  In  Company  F  (Westfield), 
one  hundred  strong,  scarcely  a  man  escaped.  I  attributed  this  to  the 
delay  in  mustering  in  this  company,  and  procuring  suitable  under-garments 
from  the  quartermaster.  On  the  first  day,  I  pitched  three  small  tents 
and  provided  each  of  them  with  two  bunks,  rudely  made  by  the  carpenters 
at  work  on  the  ground.  Each  consisted  of  two  lateral  planks,  six  and  a 
half  feet  long,  six  inches  wide,  connected  by  slats  two  feet  in  length. 
These,  covered  with  straw  and  two  blankets,  made  quite  comfortable 
berths. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  second  week  I  was  able  to  exchange  the  small, 
ill-ventilated  tents  for  large  ones.  The  number  of  bunks  has  been  adequate 
up  to  the  present  time.  Opposite  the  intervals  of  the  three  hospital  tents, 
I  located  two  tents,  —  one  for  the  steward,  Mr.  Fuller,  and  one  for  a  dis 
pensary  and  office.  The  intervening  space  was  spaded  up,  rolled  hard, 
swept  daily,  and  patrolled  by  a  regular  sentinel,  to  guard  the  sick  from 
disturbance. 

The  sick-list  has  averaged,  daily,  five  in  hospital,  thirty  at  quarters. 
The  surgeon's  call  has  been  at  nine  A.M.  daily,  at  which  time  the  first  ser 
geants  have  reported  at  the  dispensary,  accompanied  by  their  sick.  At 
ten,  daily,  I  have  reported  to  the  commander,  according  to  the  form  in  the 
army  regulation.  I  have  also  kept  a  case-book  in  due  form,  and  notified 
the  quartermaster  that  I  should  expect  the  rations  of  all  hospital  patients 
to  be  credited  to  the  hospital  fund,  an  arrangement  in  which  he  cordially 
acquiesced.  I  have  had  daily  a  large  tray  of  rice  served  at  the  hospital, 
with  abundance  of  flaxseed  tea;  and  it  has  been  sufficient  in  a  majority 
of  the  cases  of  diarrhoea,  to  enforce  abstinence,  rest,  and  the  wearing  of 
flannel,  with  a  single  dose  of  paregoric,  chalk  mixture,  soda  mixture, 
rhubarb  or  castor  oil  with  laudanum.  We  have  rarely  had  the  diarrhoea 
patients  on  our  hands  more  than  twenty-four  hours.  We  have  commonly 
had  about  twenty  men  daily  at  our  rice  dinners.  Pie  and  candy  vendors 
have  been  excluded  from  the  camp,  in  obedience  to  my  representations  to 
Col.  Lyman. 

On  the  right  of  the  camp  was  a  stagnant  pool,  two  rods  wide.  I  sug 
gested  that  it  should  be  drained,  and  the  lieutenant-colonel  detached  one 
hundred  men,  who,  working  in  three  reliefs,  dug  a  ditch  one  hundred  feet 
long  and  six  feet  deep,  emptying  the  earth  from  the  trench  into  the  upper 
end  of  the  pool,  finally  covering  over  the  surface  of  the  pool  so  that  it 
was  a  firm  marching  ground.  The  ditch  was  then  filled  up.  The  whole 
operation  lasted  but  two  hours.  A  bathing  tent  was  established  on  the 
hillside,  and  the  men  have  orders  to  bathe  twice  a  week.  The  officers 


THE    MEDICAL    DEPARTMENT.  499 

have  made  arrangements  to  provide  all  the  men  with  towels  and  combs. 
I  believe  that  the  men  are  generally  attentive  to  personal  cleanliness. 
Only  five  have  been  detected  with  vermin.  They  were  sequestered  in  a 
"  lazaretto  tent,"  outside  the  camp,  treated  with  inunctions  and  subli 
mate  lotions  and  soap-suds  twice  daily  till  they  were  thoroughly  cleansed. 
One  escaped  into  camp  and  was  taken  back  by  an  armed  guard  and  treated 
to  aloes  and  jalap  in  powder. 

The  police  of  the  camp  has  been  good.  The  sinks  have  been  daily  cov 
ered  in  with  earth;  the  straw  and  blankets  aired,  the  tents  repitched  once 
a  week.  The  kitchens  are  supplied  with  drains ;  and  refuse  matters  left 
about  the  tents  have  elicited  a  speedy  rebuke  from  the  police  guard.  On 
the  whole,  the  camp  has  been  healthy  and  orderly. 

During  the  fortnight  we  have  been  in  camp,  I  have  spent  the  nights  at 
my  house,  half  a  mile  distant.  I  have  reported  at  from  seven  to  eight 
and  a  half  A.  M.,  and  remained  from  seven  till  ten  p.  M.  I  have  examined 
over  seven  hundred  recruits. 

With  much  respect,  sincerely  yours, 

GEORGE  A.  OTIS,  JR., 

Surg.  Twenty- Seventh  Eegt. 

This  letter  shows  a  master-hand  and  a  thorough,  energetic 
and  progressive  man.  The  medical  department  consisted  of 
George  A.  Otis  of  Springfield,  Surgeon ;  Samuel  Camp  of 
Great  Barrington,  Assistant  Surgeon,  and  George  E.  Fuller 
of  Wilbraham,  Hospital  Steward.  The  hospital  was  organ 
ized  with  Eansom  D.  Pratt,  Company  D,  Sunderland,  Clerk  ; 
William  Sanderson,  Company  I,  Annapolis,  Md.,  Apothe 
cary;  Warren  S.  Buxton,  Company  K,  Wilbraham,  Com 
missary  ;  John  O'Connors,  Company  I,  Palmer,  Cook ;  with 
Charles  D.  Fish,  Company  A,  Easthampton  ;  William  H. 
Moody,  Company  D,  South  Hadley ;  Hiram  Spooner,  Com 
pany  F,  Southampton ;  Jabez  C.  Brown,  Company  H, 
Adams,  and  Charles  R.  Fay,  Company  K,  Springfield,  as 
Nurses.  John  King  of  Company  E,  Lenox,  was  the  first  to 
serve  as  a  nurse,  and  he  it  was  who  being  challenged  at 
night  in  passing  a  guard,  thrust  a  bed-pan  under  the  sentinel's 
nose  saying,  "  Begorra  !  isn't  that  countersign  enough  for 
ye  ?  "  Steward  Fuller  was  the  first  medical  officer  to  share 


500  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  rations  and  quarters  of  the  regiment.  Hardly  a  night 
was  passed  without  calls  for  relief  from  cholera  morbus  and 
colic,  Col  Lyman's  order  prohibiting  the  sale  of  pies 'nt 'kings 
not  preventing  many  of  the  men  from  running  the  guard, 
and  gorging  themselves  in  the  city.  Most  of  the  time  while 
the  regiment  remained  in  the  State  was  passed  by  this  de 
partment  in  constant  efforts  to  avert  the  dire  effects  of  the 
pie-eat-y  inclination  of  the  men,  and  to  check  the  tendency 
to  disease  from  this  entirely  new  mode  of  life.  Colds  and 
bowel-complaints  were  the  prevailing  troubles,  resulting 
from  sleeping  upon  the  ground  with  only  straw  and  a  rubber 
blanket  separating  them  therefrom. 

The  last  of  September  we  received  our  hospital  supplies. 
The  stores  filled  twelve  large  chests,  one  of  them  containing 
a  miniature  apothecary  shop  ;  two,  other  medicines  in  bulk  ; 
another,  cooking  utensils ;  still  another,  our  mess  stores ; 
while  the  others  were  filled  with  sheets,  ticks  and  blankets, 
sufficient  for  twelve  cots,  besides  shirts,  towels,  lint  and 
changes  for  the  use  of  the  sick.  There  were  twelve  iron 

O 

bedsteads,  four  stretchers,  three  ambulances,  and  two  two- 
horse  transportation  wagons.  Surgeon  Otis'  experience  in 
the  hospitals  of  Europe  proved  of  great  value  in  arranging 
and  equipping  our  hospital.  His  success  is  fully  shown  in 
that  the  organization  of  the  great  Base  Hospital  of  the  Tenth 
and  Eighteenth  Corps,  in  the  campaign  of  1864,  Was  largely 
entrusted  to  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Hospi 
tal  Department.  Steward,  now  Dr.  Fuller,  is  in  possession 
of  a  letter  from  the  Medical  Director  of  the  Army  of  the 
James,  in  which  he  ascribes  much  of  the  efficiency  of  that 
hospital  to  them. 

In  leaving  Springfield,  Nov.  2,  1861,  we  took  all  our  sick 
with  us,  including  two  severe  cases  of  typhoid  fever.  This 
Surgeon  Otis  did,  because  he  thought  that  any  who  were  left 
behind  would  never  rejoin  the  regiment.  Before  we  had 
accomplished  half  our  journey  the  surgeon  wished  he  had 


ON    THE    WAY    TO    ANNAPOLIS.  501 

left  the  severer  cases  in  Springfield.  A  passenger  coach  at 
the  rear  of  the  train  bearing  the  regiment  was  assigned  us, 
in  which  we  endeavored  to  make  our  sickest  men  comfortable 
upon  stretchers  placed  across  the  top  of  the  seats.  The 
transferal  of  our  patients  and  supplies  to  a  steamer  at  mid 
of  night  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  and  again  to  cars  at  Jersey  City, 
N.  J.,  and  the  exchanging  of  cars  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and 
Baltimore,  Md.,  was  a  task  severely  taxing  the  strength  and 
endurance  of  our  hospital  department,  as  well  as  enfeebling 
and  hazardous  to  our  sick.  While  the  regiment  was  refresh 
ing  itself  at  Cooper's  Rooms  and  waiting  for  transportation, 
the  ladies  of  Philadelphia  obtained  comfortable  beds  for  our 
invalids  and  supplied  them  with  delicate  and  stimulating  food. 
The  tender  care  bestowed  by  these  patriotic  women,  did 
much  to  aid  us  in  reaching  Annapolis  without  serious  results 
to  our  suffering  men.  In  spite  of  the  severe  strain  caused 
by  this  journey  upon  our  fevered  men,  all  of  them  recovered 
after  reaching  our  destination.  On  arrival  at  Annapolis, 
Md.,  we  attempted  to  get  hospital  accommodations,  but 
without  success  until  the  following  afternoon,  when  we  got 
our  sick  into  the  post  hospital.  A  more  jaded  set  of  men 
than  the  hospital  department,  when  they  had  completed  the 
transfer  of  their  disabled  men,  and  their  supplies,  is  hard 
to  be  imagined. 

November  was  a  delightful  month,  and  was  attended  with 
very  little  sickness,  but  December  was  dull  and  stormy. 
Measles  became  epidemic  in  camp  and  after  a  cold,  raw 
storm,  the  cases  which  came  to  the  hospital  took  on  a  very 
malignant  type,  and  by  the  men  were  appropriately  called 
"  black  measles,"  quite  a  number  of  cases  proving  fatal. 

Upon  the  embarkation  of  the  regiment  with  Burnside's 
Expedition,  such  of  the  sick  as  could  bear  removal  were 
placed  upon  the  hospital  schooner  "  Recruit,"  while  the  more 
serious  cases  were  left  at  the  Annapolis  hospitals.  During 
the  month  we  were  storm-tossed  at  Hatteras  we  were  favored 


502  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

as  to  sickness  ;  vermin,  however,  abounded,  and  for  them 
unguentum  and  sulphur  had  no  terrors.  Officers  and  men 
were  mercilessly  overrun,  and  doughty  soldiers  who  had 
sworn  to  shed  their  blood  if  necessary  to  defend  their  colors, 
yielded  their  blood  by  day  and  by  night  to  cohorts  of  lice, 
with  which  all  were  infested.  We  could  not  rid  ourselves 
from  them  until  after  our  arrival  at  New  Berne,  where  soap 
and  fresh  water  could  be  had  in  abundance.  At  Roanoke 
Island,  Surgeon  Otis  and  Steward  Fuller  were  detailed  upon 
the  gunboat  "Ranger"  to  participate  in  the  naval  engage 
ment,  while  Assistant  Surgeon  Camp  attended  the  regiment 
upon  the  battle-field.  The  skill,  energy,  and  courage  shown 
by  the  latter  upon  that  field  are  worthy  of  all  praise. 

The  story  of  New  Berne  is  admirably  related  in  a  letter  of 
Surgeon  Otis  to  the  Surgeon- General  of  Massachusetts  :  — 

NEW  BERNE,  March  28,  1862. 
To  the,  Surgeon-General: 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  landed  at  Slocum's  Creek  on  the  morning  of  the  13th 
with  the  first  boat-load  from  onr  regiment,  and  having  waded  ashore,  I 
marched  (with  the  hospital  department)  to  the  point  where  we  bivou 
acked.  Our  regiment,  suffering  terribly  from  long  confinement  on  ship 
board,  turned  out  only  five  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  Twenty-First  had 
but  five  hundred;  the  Twenty-Fifth  seven  hundred;  the  Twenty -Fourth 
mustered  full  ranks.  The  two  last  had  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  a  month 
ashore  at  Roanoke  Island,  and  constant  practice  in  drill  and  march;  while 
our  poor  fellows  were  cribbed  and  cabined  three  days  after  Hoauoke  was 
taken.  Still  our  stragglers  were  fewer  than  from  either  of  the  regiments 
in  advance  of  it.  Only  five  men  declared  their  utter  inability-  to  keep  up 
with  the  weary  march.  In  the  morning,  about  six,  the  few  who  could 
sleep  were  aroused  by  a  prolonged  fusilade.  We  were  presently  on  the 
march,  and  soon  came  in  sight  of  the  long  line  of  entrenchments.  The 
Twenty- Seventh  opened  Jirc,  quickly  followed  by  the  howitzers.  About 
seventy-five  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  howitzers,  a  lane  led  off  at  right 
angles  from  the  road  to  the  right,  toward  a  farmhouse,  two  hundred 
yards  distant,  known  as  Harrison's  House.  On  the  lane,  midway  between 
the  road  and  farmhouse,  was  a  cluster  of  negro  quarters.  As  I  passed  up 
the  road,  my  orderly  pointed  to  the  farmhouse,  where  a  red  flag  was  float 
ing,  and  said,  "  Sir,  the  doctors  are  collecting  there."  I  afterwards 
learned  that  Dr.  Church  (medical  director),  and  Drs.  Green  and  Curtis  of 
the  Twenty-Fourth,  had  occupied  this  house,  which  was  about  two  huu- 


SURG.    OTIS    ON    THE    FIELD    Off    NEW    BERNE.  503 

dred  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  the  Twenty-Fourth,  but  that  a  shell 
had  exploded  in  the  yard,  whereupon  the  medical  director  ordered  them 
to  fall  back  and  establish  an  ambulance  station  in  the  woods,  a  half-mile 
further  in  the  rear. 

I  replied  to  the  orderly,  that  we  would  get  nearer,  and  kept  on  till 
we  came  to  the  guns  in  position  at  the  head  of  the  road,  where  my  men 
halted,  a  rod  in  rear  of  the  line  of  battle.  I  had  barely  time  to  call  to 
them,  that  their  position  near  the  battery  was  too  dangerous,  when  our 
colonel  gave  the  word,  open  fire.  We  hurried  over  toward  the  left  wing 
of  our  regiment,  but  had  hardly  passed  the  centre  when  the  enemy's  fire 
became  so  heavy  that  most  of  my  men  began  to  throw  themselves  on 
their  faces  at  each  discharge  of  grape,  which  was  poured  in  at  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  yards  from  a  battery  of  six  twelve- 
pounders,  served  with  great  rapidity  and  accuracy.  The  stretcher-bear 
ers,  however,  came  up  promptly  when  the  first  man  dropped,  a  little 
fellow  from  Amherst,  a  true  Massachusetts  boy  (John  E.  Cushman  by 
name) ,  whose  left  arm  was  shattered  by  grape.  He  was  carried  a  little 
way  to  the  rear  and  across  the  road,  when  I  stopped  to  perform  the 
operation.  But  we  found  the  fire  here  hotter  than  at  the  front,  one  of 
my  attendants  being  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  so 
Cushman  was  taken  up  and  carried  one  hundred  yards  further,  to  the 
cluster  of  shanties  I  have  mentioned.  I  amputated  at  the  surgical  neck 
of  the  humerus  as  rapidly  as  I  could — the  shanty  being  struck  more  than 
once  during  the  operation.  I  should  perhaps  have  considered  the  pro 
priety  of  moving  further  off,  had  not  the  wounded  begun  to  throng  the 
house  before  the  first  operation  was  finished,  and  to  claim  instant  atten 
tion.  I  next  removed  Lieut.  Warner's  leg,  and  was  engaged  in  this  opera 
tion  and  had  sent  my  assistant,  Dr.  Camp,  to  see  if  the  farmhouse  was 
occupied,  when  Dr.  Derby  came  in  with  Capt.  Sawyer,  whose  thigh  he  had 
just  amputated.  It  was  agreed  that  he  should  go  to  the  farmhouse,  where 
the  wounded  were  now  thronging.  Meanwhile  Dr.  Camp  and  Dr.  Lathrop, 
of  the  Eighth  Conn.,  assisted  me  by  attending  to  the  minor  injuries  of 
the  men  outside.  The  severest  cases  were  taken  into  the  three  shanties, 
or  were  carried  on  to  the  farmhouse,  where  Dr.  Derby  was,  assisted  by 
Drs.  Ilice,  Batchelder,  Upham  and  Stone;  or  to  the  rear,  where  Drs. 
Thompson,  Green  and  Curtis  were  busily  engaged. 

My  friend,  Dr.  Lathrop,  however,  had  to  leave  to  seek  his  regiment, 
which  had  removed  from  the  reserve  to  the  left,  and  as  Dr.  Camp  had 
gone  to  the  field,  I  was  left  alone.  I  did  nearly  all  my  operations  with 
the  assistance  of  Hospital  Steward  Fuller,  who  showed  great  firmness, 
though  he  had  never  before  witnessed  operative  procedures  under  fire. 

Sixty-four  wounded  of  the  Twenty-Seventh,  Twenty-Third  and  Twenty- 
Fifth  Mass.,  Fourth  Rhode  Island,  the  Eleventh  Conn  ,  and  the  naval  bri 
gade  (which  manned  the  howitzers)  were  treated  at  my  hospital  station. 
Thirty-one  of  those  that  had  undergone  operations,  or  were  too  severely 


504          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT.  , 

•wounded  to  be  moved  farther,  remained  alone  there.  I  extracted,  or  cut 
out,  two  grape  and  three  musket  balls,  and  tied  the  radial  artery  for  a 
wound  above  the  wrist.  There  was  one  case  in  which  amputation  at  the 
hip  joint  might  have  been  practised,  the  case  of  James  Sullivan,  Company 
G.,  whose  thigh  was  shockingly  mangled  by  a  solid  shot;  but  the  sur 
geons  of  the  First  Brigade  are  convinced  that  it  is  wisest  not  to  attempt 
this  procedure.  One  of  our  men  with  compound  fracture  of  the  forearm, 
and  one  with  compound  fracture  of  the  tibia,  have  done  well  without 
operative  interference.  The  operations  sum  up  as  follows  :  Amputations 
of  the  thigh,  one ;  of  leg,  two ;  of  arm,  four ;  of  forearm,  one ;  total  major 
amputations,  eight.  Amputations  of  fingers,  or  portions  of  the  hand,  three. 
Ball  extractions,  five.  One  of  my  most  interesting  cases  is  that  of  P. 
Sweeny,  of  Company  C,  who  probably  has  a  conical  ball  in  the  head  of  the 
right  humerns.  After  being  hit,  he  walked  to  a  hospital  station  nearly  two 
miles  in  the  rear,  where  a  cold-water  dressing  was  applied  and  the  arm 
placed  in  a  sling.  The  next  day  he  walked  back  to  my  hospital  at  the 
field.  This  developed  excessive  irritative  action,  and  though  I  was 
anxious  to  attempt  excision  of  the  head  of  the  bone,  I  listened  to  my  bet 
ter  judgment  and  to  Dr.  Derby's  wise  counsel,  and  waited.  When  we 
moved  the  severely  wounded  to  New  Berne,  four  days  afterward,  Sweeny 
bore  the  journey  ill,  and  he  is  still  in  a  condition  in  which  Dr.  Derby  and 
I  consider  any  operation  inexpedient.  The  severely  wounded  of  the  First 
Brigade  Avere  brought  to  New  Berne  on  a  steamer,  which  ran  aground, 
and  Derby  and  I  were  left  in  charge  of  seventy-one  wounded,  including 
twenty-one  stumps  of  limbs,  for  the  weariest  night  I  almost  ever  spent. 
Dr.  Upharn  had  organized  a  general  hospital,  and  Dr.  Knedand  another, 
and  here  the  wounded  were  consigned.  Derby  was  put  in  charge  of  one 
and  I  was  detailed  to  the  other;  but  the  immense  number  of  cases  in  my 
regiment  compelled  me  to  insist  on  being  relieved.  I  am  now  in  charge 
of  our  regimental  hospital,  which  contains,  alas  !  sixty-seven  beds.  The 
regiment  is  encamped  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  I  occupy  four 
pleasant  cottages  for  my  hospital;  roses  and  hyacinths  bloom  around 
them,  and  the  pure  air  is  rapidly  doing  its  beneficial  wrork  on  the  inmates. 

Your  very  ob't  serv't, 

G.  A.  OTIS, 
Surg.  Twenty- Seventh  Eegt.  Mass  Vols. 

A  few  days  after  the  battle  our  hospital  opened  in  four 
neat  cottages  near  the  Fair  Ground,  with  about  seventy-five 
beds,  all  occupied,  and  still  not  enough  to  receive  all  who 
should  have  been  accommodated  with  hospital  care.  There 
were  also  nearly  two  hundred  sick  in  quarters.  It  will  be 


ASST.    SURGEONS    CAMP   AND    HUBON.  505 

seen,  therefore,  that  the  roses  and  hyacinths,  which  were  in 
bloom,  had  few  attractions  for  many  of  our  weary,  ship- 
worn  men,  who,  with  constitutions  seriously  impaired  by 
sixty-nine  days'  confinement  on  crowded  transports,  were 
sadly  fitted  for  a  summer's  campaign,  with  the  malarial 
miasms  of  North  Carolina  swamps  and  the  diseases  incident 
to  a  change  of  climate.  As  a  consequence,  typho-malarial 
fever  and  chronic  diarrhoea  prevailed  extensively  during  our 
first  summer  South,  and  kept  our  hospital  crowded  and  our 
men  hard- worked.  Even  now,  after  the  lapse  of  twenty 
years,  the  tears  dim  the  eye  as  we  think  how  often  the  drum 
corps  and  a  squad  of  men  with  arms  reversed  came  to  the 
hospital  to  escort  a  beloved  comrade  to  that  most  honored 
place  on  earth  —  a  patriot's  grave.  Fresh  fruits  and  vege 
tables,  and,  later,  the  cool,  invigorating  air  of  autumn, 
brought  new  life,  strength  and  vigor  to  our  men,  in  place  of 
the  jaundiced  countenance  and  weary  shamble  which  had 
marked  them  during  the  summer.  Assistant  Surgeon 
Samuel  Camp,  who  had  been  with  us  from  the  first,  and  who 
was  popular  with  the  men,  a  competent  physician  and  sur 
geon,  resigned  March  27th,  soon  after  the  battle  of  New  Berne, 
arid  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Great 
Barrington.  Dr.  Peter  Emmet  Hubon,  of  Worcester,  was 
appointed  to  his  place  April  15,  1862,  and  reported  for  duty 
April  30.  Dr.  Hubon  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
regiment,  with  which  he  remained  until  May  27,  1863,  when 
he  was  promoted  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Twenty-Eighth  Mass. 
Vols.  After  the  war,  Dr.  Plubon  visited  Europe,  and,  re 
turning,  located  in  Worcester,  where  he  practised  his  pro 
fession  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1875. 

It  was  the  custom  for  some  time  after  our  arrival  at  New 
Berne  to  give  the  men  every  morning  a  grain  of  quinine  and 
a  table-spoonful  of  whiskey,  as  a  prophylactic.  Our  quinine 
soon  gave  out,  and  Dr.  Otis  ordered  the  whiskey  doubled. 
No  complaints  Avere  made  on  account  of  this  change. 


506  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

May  1,  Dr.  Hubon  accompanied  the  regiment  to  Bachelor's 
Creek  as  the  medical  officer ;  but  the  hospital  was  retained 
at  the  cottages,  and  the  sick  were  brought  in  by  ambulance. 
The  hospital  was  maintained  at  the  cottages  till  we  were 
divided  on  the  9th  of  September.  They  were  then  given 
up,  but  Dr.  Otis  remained  at  New  Berne  as  medical  direc 
tor.  Dr.  Hubon  went  to  Newport  Barracks,  Dr.  Hunt  to 
Washington,  and  Hospital  Steward  Fuller  to  Bachelor's 
Creek.  The  last-named  station  proved  healthful.  Newport 
Barracks  and  Washington  were  hotbeds  of  malaria, — espe 
cially  Newport  Barracks.  The  sickliest  station  where  any 
of  our  regiment  was  located  was  Haverlock,  near  Newport 
Barracks,  where  a  dam  had  broken  through  and  a  pond 
emptied,  which  had  been  in  existence  for  more  than  fifty 
years  This  pestilential  spot  would  render  a  whole  company 
hors  de  combat  in  a  week. 

Dr.  Franklin  L.  Hunt  went  to  Little  Washington  and 
reported  for  duty  August  15th.  He  became  at  once  very 
popular,  and  was  of  disposition  so  amiable  that  one  could 
not  help  but  be  attracted  to  him.  His  stay  with  us  was 
short,  for  on  November  18th  he  was  fired  upon  by  rebels  in 
ambush,  and  fell,  pierced  by  eleven  bullets.  Dr.  Hunt's 
funeral  was  attended  at  New  Berne  by  the  whole  medical 
corps.  He  was  universally  lamented. 

November  3oth,  the  several  detachments  of  the  regiment 
were  ordered  to  New  Berne,  and  established  a  hospital  in  a 
house  opposite  to  Academy  Green  and  the  Academy  Green 
General  Hospital.  This  arrangement  was  of  short  duration, 
as  the  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to  the  field,  and  the  hos 
pital  department  accompanied  it  to  Kinston,  Whitehall, 
and  Goldsboro.  Returning  to  New  Berne  we  had  hardly 
time  to  establish  a  hospital  before  we  were  ordered  to  Wash 
ington,  N.  C.  Here  we  found  a  post  hospital  which  Dr. 
Hunt,  our  lamented  second  assistant  surgeon,  had  organized, 
and  which,  since  his  untimely  death,  had  been  in  charge  of 


THE    HOSPITAL    FUND.  507 

Assistant  Surgeon  Hubon.  This  we  enlarged,  by  taking 
possession  of  the  Grice  mansion,  and  were  soon  in  as 
elegant  quarters  as  we  could  ask  for.  Our  wards,  —  once 
magnificent  parlors,  —  had  full-length  mirrors  and  other 
luxuries  not  included  in  the  list  of  supplies  of  the  quarter 
master's  department. 

While  here  a  bakery  was  constructed,  in  which  we  baked 
the  flour  furnished  by  the  government,  thus  saving  one-half 
in  the  bread  ration  and  increasing  by  so  much  our  hospital 
fund.  We  could  draw  at  stated  periods  one  daily  ration  for 
each  attendant  and  patient,  but  as  the  sick  did  not  need  full 
rations,  only  such  parts  thereof  were  drawn  as  were  actually 
required  by  the  sick  and  the  attendants.  The  difference  in 
value  between  the  number  of  rations  due  a  hospital  and  the 
stores  issued  to  it,  constituted  a  credit  with  the  subsistence 
department  in  favor  of  the  hospital.  This  credit  was  called 
the  "  hospital  fund,"  and  furnished  the  means  for  supplying 
the  sick  with  extras  needful  for  tkeir  health  and  comfort. 
In  December,  1863,  there  was  due  the  hospital  $1)6.39  for 
four  hundred  and  fifty-nine  rations  at  twenty-one  cents  per 
ration,  beside  a  balance  of  $15.18  from  the  previous  month. 
We  selected  from  the  supplies  included  in  the  government 
ration,  salt  and  fresh  beef,  flour,  potatoes,  onions,  rice,  tea, 
coffee,  sugar  and  molasses  to  the  amount  of  $74.83,  and 
purchased  at  the  expense  of  our  fund  delicacies  to  the 
amount  of  $15  00.  For  January,  1864,  the  cost  of  apples, 
lemons,  butter,  eggs,  chickens,  tomatoes,  milk  and  oysters 
amounted  to  $40.57. 

At  Washington,  malarial  and  catarrhal  diseases  abounded 
during  the  early  winter  ;  later  on,  these  gave  Avay  to  rheuma 
tism  and  a  few  cases  of  measles.  On  the  21st  of  January 
there  were  ten  sick  in  hospital  and  fifty  at  surgeon's  call. 

On  the  26th,  Companies  G  and  H  sailed  for  Plymouth,  N. 
C.,  and  with  them  went  Ashley  W.  Barrows  of  Company  G, 
who  before  joining  the  regiment  had  taken  a  partial  course 


508          TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

of  medical  lectures,  after  an  experience  of  several  years  as 
a  drug  clerk.  Barrows  acted  as  hospital  steward  at  Plym 
outh,  remaining  after  the  return  of  Companies  G  and  H, 
until  the  town  was  captured  and  himself  taken  a  prisoner. 

In  the  opening  of  the  spring,  malaria  increased,  and  then 
came  the  siege  of  Washington.  Owing  to  the  smallness  of 
our  force  it  was  absolutely  necessary  that  every  man  should 
be  at  the  front.  Rations  were  insufficient,  vegetables  were 
wanting,  and  very  little  rest  could  be  obtained ;  so  that  at 
the  close  of  the  siege  the  men  came  out  of  the  trenches 
wearied  and  debilitated  by  the  long  mental  strain  and  bodily 
exposure.  When  we  reached  New  Berne  scurvy  began  to 
appear,  and  the  men  were  utterly  unfit  for  the  rapid  and 
exhausting  marches  to  and  from  Gum  Swamp.  It  was  no 
wonder  that  men  in  such  a  condition,  marching  over  the  miry 
roads  and  drinking  the  marshy  water  from  the  roadside, 
should  drop  in  the  way  by  scores,  but  it  was  a  wonder  that 
any  one  possessing  a  spark  of  humanity  could  have  called 
these  soldiers  "white-livered  cowards,"  as  our  sick  were 
called  by  the  commanding  general  at  this  time.  This  was 
the  same  officer  who  afterward  reprimanded  the  assistant 
surgeon  in  charge  of  the  regiment  for  appropriating  a  mule- 
cart  and  a  wagon  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  home  the  sick 
who  were  unable  to  walk.  We  were  on  a  raid  amon^  o-uer- 

O      O 

rillas  and  these  vehicles  belonged  to  one  of  their  leaders. 

At  Little  Washington,  during  the  siege,  several  cases  of 
cerebro-spinal  meningitis  had  occurred,  but  after  reaching 
New  Berne  this  disease  became  epidemic  among  us.  Other 
diseases  increased,  especially  bowel  troubles  and  malarial 
fevers  with  congestive  chills  ;  so  that  we  had  from  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  to  one  hundred  and  thirty  at  sick-call  daily. 

July  12th  the  medical  staff  was  strengthened  by  the 
arrival  of  Dr.  Curtis  E.  Munn,  just  appointed  second 
assistant  surgeon,  who,  with  jovial  disposition  and  a  happy 
tact  for  smoothing  over  rough  places,  became  a  general 


ONE  EFFECT  OF  LARGE  BOUNTIES.          509 

favorite.  In  August  sickness  had  greatly  decreased  and  the 
regiment  was  healthier  than  at  any  time  since  leaving  Annap 
olis.  The  sanitary  condition  of  the  city  over  which  we  were 
acting  as  provost  guard  was  excellent,  owing  to  the  most  effi 
cient  labors  of  Capt.  A.  R.  Dennison,  street  commissioner 
and  member  of  the  board  of  health.  In  October,  owing  to  a 
long  storm,  coughs,  colds  and  intermittent  fever  increased, 
until,  when  at  Newport  News,  we  had  a  very  large  sick  list. 
In  November  the  hospital  caught  fire  and  many  of  the 
regimental  records  were  injured  or  destroyed.  Sickness 
steadily  decreased  through  November  and  December  till  at 
Norfolk,  December  18th,  we  had  only  sixteen  men  on  the 
sick  list.  In  January,  1864,  we  had  five  or  six  men  at  sur 
geon's  call  and  only  ten  in  the  hospital  out  of  seven  hun 
dred  and  twenty  present,  and  had  passed  nearly  five  months 
with  but  one  death  occurring  in  the  regiment.  In  January 
and  February,  1864,  measles  and  small-pox  appeared  and 
we  had  twenty-four  or  twenty-five  cases  of  the  latter 
disease,  three  of  which  were  fatal.  One  of  these  three 
was  Corp.  Harry  R.  Blackmer  of  Athol,  -Company  B,  who 
died  January  26th,  and  whose  death  was  felt  to  be  a  great 
loss  to  the  regiment.  Our  hospital  at  Norfolk  was  located 
on  Catherine  Street,  and  was  well  equipped.  Under  the 
supervision  of  Steward  Fuller  and  his  faithful  assistants, 
our  sick  received  every  possible  care  and  attention. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  when  men,  stimulated  by 
patriotism,  enlisted  from  a  sense  of  duty  and  a  desire  to  serve 
their  country,  comparatively  few  recruits  were  found  unfit 
for  military  duty  by  regimental  surgeons ;  afterwards  men, 
utterly  unfit  for  service,  stimulated  by  large  bounties,  were 
accepted  by  the  surgeons  at  the  recruiting  stations,  and  sent 
to  the  regiments  in  the  field.  Thus,  with  many  valuable 
recruits  sent  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  at  Newport  News  and 
Norfolk,  were  received  many  men  broken  down  by  old  age 
and  disease ;  men  disabled  by  organic  disease  of  the  heart, 


510  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

chronic  rheumatism,  chronic  alcoholism,  scrofula  and  even 
imbecility.  Some  of  these,  after  being  rejected  by  the  regi 
mental  surgeon,  could  not  be  got  rid  of.  They  were  at  last 
put  upon  the  rolls,  drew  their  pay,  did  little  or  no  service, 
and  now  have  a  hope  of  becoming  enrolled  in  the  vast  army 
of  pensioners.  At  Julian's  Creek,  in  April,  we  had  little 
sickness,  and  fortunately,  for  we  were  without  sufficient 
protection,  owing  to  the  want  of  hospital  tents. 

May  3,  1861,  we  landed  at  Yorktown  "in  light  marching 
order";  "so  light,  indeed,"  as  Dr.  Munn  remarked,  "that 
our  hospital  equipage  consisted  of  a  towel ;  and  would  soon 
be  cut  down  to  a  pocket-handkerchief."  At  Bermuda  Hun 
dreds,  Dr.  Fish  and  Steward  Fuller  were  detailed  to  the  corps 
hospital ;  but  the  former,  desiring  to  stay  with  the  regiment 
and  share  its  fortunes,  begged  off  from  the  detail,  and  Dr. 
Munn  was  taken  in  his  place.  Neither  of  these  officers 
returned  to  the  regiment,  but  remained  at  the  corps  hospitals 
until  promoted.  Dr.  Munn  first  enlisted  from  Westfield  in 
December,  1861,  as  hospital  stesvard  of  the  First  Mass. 
Cavalry.  He  was  promoted  to  assistant  surgeon  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  July,  1863  ;  surgeon  Second  Mass-  Infantry 
December,  1864  ;  mustered  out  July,  1865.  Appointed  first 
lieutenant  and  assistant  surgeon  U.  S.  A.  November,  1868  : 

O  '  * 

promoted  captain  and  assistant  surgeon  December,  1869. 
He  is  now  stationed  at  Fort  Bayard,  New  Mexico,  and  is 
reputed  one  of  the  most  skilful  surgeons  in  the  army. 

Jt  is  but  just  to  say  that  Steward  Fuller  was  the  right  man 
in  the  right  place.  He  was  one  in  whose  ability,  discretion 
and  trustworthiness  the  surgeons  of  the  regiment  placed 
implicit  confidence.  Leaving  Amherst  College  to  enlist  in 
the  Twenty-Seventh,  he  gave  his  whole  heart  to  the  work, 
and  under  the  tuition  of  Dr.  Otis  became  a  model  hospital 
steward.  Fertile  in  expedients,  and  zealous  for  the  welfare 
of  those  entrusted  to  his  care,  whatever  of  necessaries  or 
luxuries  were  to  be  had  for  the  sick  were  soon  obtained. 


Lieutenant  FRED.  C.  WRHJHT. 


Captain  JUSTUS  LYMAN. 


Hospital  Steward  GEORGE  E.   FULLER. 


WARREN  S.  BUXTON. 


CHARLES  R.   FAY. 


STEWARD    GEORGE    E.    FULLER.  511 

Under  his  rule  no  jealousies  or  divisions  arose  among  "  the 
hospit.il  crew,"  but  each  worked  faithfully  and  cheerfully  for 
the  common  good.  After  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment 
in  the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.,  Steward  Fuller  served  as  a 
hospital  steward  in  the  regular  army,  at  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  he  completed  his  medical  course,  and  graduated  from 
the  Columbia  Medical  College.  He  is  now  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a  lucrative  practice  at  Monson,  Mass. 

After  Steward  Fuller's  detail,  William  E.  F.  Sanderson, 
of  Company  I,  one  of  the  hospital  attendants,  was  made 
acting  hospital  stewnrd,  and  performed  the  duties  with  great 
acceptance.  At  Port  Walthall  Junction,  on  the  6th  of  May, 
the  brigade  hospital,  under  Dr.  Otis,  was  at  the  Mary  Dunn 
house  ;  \\hile  the  temporary  dressings  of  the  wounds  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  men  were  done  in  a  little  storehouse  half 
way  down  the  field  towards  the  battle-ground.  The  latter 
place  proved  to  be  too  far  in  advance,  as  it  was  with  difficulty 
the  wounded  could  be  removed  before  the  withdrawal  of  our 
forces.  The  bravest  men,  when  lying  wounded  and  helpless 
under  fire,  suffer  from  dread  of  further  unnecessary  hurt. 
This  mistake  was  committed  at  New  Berne,  and  at  Peters 
burg  on  the  18th  of  June.  The  only  excuse  that  can  be 
offered  for  this,  is  the  conviction  of  its  surgeons  that  with  a 
fair  field  before  it,  the  progress  of  the  regiment  could  not 
be  stayed  ;  a  conviction  so  firmly  fixed  that  not  even  the 
bloody  repulses  of  Drewry's  Bluff  and  Cold  Harbor  were 
sufficient  to  impair  it. 

At  Arrowfield  Church  the  wounded  were  sent  to  the  corps 
hospital  as  fast  as  they  fell ;  while  at  the  close  of  the  day 
our  surgeons  did  what  they  could  to  relieve  the  sufferings 
of  the  enemy's  wounded,  only  desisting  for  a  short  time  while 
the  enemy  were  shelling  our  ambulances.  Here  William 
Hopkins  of  Company  D  caught  a  bullet  in  his  eye.  This 
must  have  been  a  spent  ball  that  lodged  under  the  lid, 
and  was  picked  out  by  one  of  his  comrades.  Strange  to 


512  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

say,  this  ball  did  not  break  the  globe,  although  the  injury 
resulted  in  the  loss  of  the  eye.  Our  brigade  had  started  out 
with  only  one  day's  rations,  and  when  night  came  on,  our 
men,  hungry  and  cold,  stood  at  their  guns,  comforted  by  the 
assurance  of  the  commanding  general  that  he  could  not 
relieve  them,  for  he  must  have  troops  at  this  point  on  whom 
he  could  rely.  The  next  forenoon,  having  had  scarcely 
time  to  taste  the  scanty  rations  sent  us,  we  started  hastily  to 
the  rear,  under  the  impression  that  Lee  was  coming  down 
from  Richmond,  and  the  Star  Brigade  was  wanted  to  ward 
off  the  impending  danger.  Owing  to  such  exposure  and 
fatigue,  after  suffering  from  heat  and  exhaustion  at  Port 
Walthall  on  the  7th,  our  sick  list  began  to  increase. 

At  Drewry's  Bluff  the  hospitals  were  far  to  the  rear.  We 
succeeded  in  getting  all  the  wounded  into  ambulances,  and 
were  not  far  behind  the  commanding  general  in  his  retreat. 

While  the  regiment  was  engaged,  a  hurried  record  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  was  made,  as  fast  as  the  names  of  the 
men  and  character  of  their  wounds  could  be  learned. 
Owing  to  frequent  changes  in  position,  it  would  often  hap 
pen  that  men  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  would  be  carried  to  the 
hospitals  of  other  regiments  in  the  brigade,  as  they  might 
happen  to  be  nearer,  while  many  of  other  regiments  were 
cared  for  in  our  hospital.  After  each  engagement  we 
endeavored  by  every  means  in  our  power  to  revise  and 
correct  our  lists,  yet  in  spite  of  every  precaution  many 
errors  were  made  —  errors  in  names  and  dates,  in  location 
and  character  of  wounds.  Some  of  these  were  mistakes  in 
the  original  entries,  others  were  errors  of  transcription  by 
hospital  and  other  clerks.  This  will  account  in  great  part 
for  the  many  errors  in  the  printed  records  of  the  casualties  of 
the  war.  Even  many  of  the  wounded  now  living  will  be 
found  mistaken  as  to  the  date  of  the  reception  of  their 
injuries,  and  whoever  undertakes  to  compile  a  list  of  casu 
alties  of  a  veteran  regiment,  may  find  that  he  has  killed  men 


THE  HORRORS  OF  COLD  HARBOR.  513 

who  are  still  living,  wounded  some  who  never  received  a 
scratch,  and  failed  to  notice  other  brave  men  who  gave 
their  lives  of  suffered  grievous  wounds  in  the  service  of 
their  country. 

At  Cold  Harbor,  on  the  night  of  June  1st,  the  hospital 
department  got  lost  in  its  vain  endeavor  to  follow  the  regi 
ment  out  on  picket  duty.  By  the  5th,  it  had  been  shelled 
out  of  three  places  in  the  rear,  and  had  gone  to  the  very 
front  for  safety.  Two  men  were  killed  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  first  position ;  shells  whistled,  screeched  and  sometimes 
burst  over  the  second ;  while  they  fell  with  a  perfect 
abandon  of  recklessness  all  about  the  third.  Next  to  the 
sufferings  endured  by  our  men  in  the  rebel  prisons  may  be 
reckoned  the  horrors  of  Cold  Harbor.  The  greater  part  of 
our  officers  and  men  were  gone,  many  of  whom  were  our 
best  loved  and  most  trusted  ;  the  little  food  we  could  get, 
and  the  water  we  drank,  were  tainted  with  the  overpowering 
odor  of  the  decomposing  bodies  of  our  dead.  Our  little 
band  was  steadily  melting  away,  until  it  seemed  that  inexor 
able  fate  had  doomed  our  regiment  to  extinction.  Here  was 
laid  the  foundation  of  many  lingering  diseases  that  have 
done  fatal  work  for  our  brave  boys. 

Among  the  many  who  fell  on  this  fatal  field  should  be 
mentioned  the  name  of  Hiram  Spooner,  of  Southampton,  one 
of  our  most  faithful  hospital  attendants,  who  was  at  this 
time  with  the  stretcher  corps.  On  the  2d  of  June,  as  he 
was  bravely  endeavoring  to  carry  off  Carr  of  Company  D, 
one  of  our  wounded  comrades,  he  fell  mortally  wounded. 

At  Petersburg,  on  the  18th  of  June,  we  first  settled  our 
selves  behind  a  low  stone  wrall  surrounding  a  private  cemetery, 
a  little  to  the  rear  of  the  "  Pace  house."  As  the  brigade  had 
gained  ground  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  line,  we  could 
see  the  battle  raging  to  our  left,  and  found  nothing  but  our 
little  wall  protecting  us.  The  wounded  who  were  brought 
here  had  to  remain  till  night,  as  the  ground  in  our  rear  was 


514  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

swept  by  the  enemy's  fire.  After  this,  the  hospital  was  estab 
lished  in  a  deep  ditch,  about  five  hundred  yards  from  the  front 
line  of  works,  and  the  same  from  the  ravine  in  the  rear,  in 
which  the  brigade  rested;  and  it  remained  here  forty-six 
days,  or  until  it  was  washed  out  by  the  flood  which  swept  so 
many  of  our  troops  down  into  the  Appomattox,  there  to 
drown,  or  to  be  shot  by  the  merciless  enemy. 

Every  alternate  two  days  was  spent  by  the  brigade  at  the 
front,  and  as  all  surgeons  in  charge  of  regiments  were 
ordered  to  visit  their  commands  every  morning,  those  of  us 
who  obeyed  the  order  were  obliged  to  run  the  gauntlet  of 
the  enemy's  sharpshooters,  who  continually  covered  the 
paths  from  the  ravine  to  the  front  with  their  telescopic  rifles. 
Hardly  a  day  passed  but  some  one  was  killed  or  wounded  on 
these  paths.  Here  several  of  our  own  boys  fell,  and  here 
the  chaplain  of  the  Twelfth  New  Hampshire,  Thomas  L. 
Ambrose,  was  mortally  wounded  while  returning  from  a 
visit  to  his  regiment.  He  was  a  genial,  kindly  man,  devoted 
to  his  work,  and  one  we  of  the  hospital  had  learned  to  love. 

"  To  correct  the  popular  fallacy  that  in  time  of  battle  the 
post  of  the  medical  officer  is  one  of  comparative  safety,"  Dr. 
Otis,  in  his  "  Surgical  History  of  the  War,"  states  that  of  the 
medical  staff  of  the  regular  and  volunteer  forces  in  the  Union 
army,  nineteen  were  killed  in  action,  thirteen  were  killed  by 
partisan  troops  or  assassinated  by  guerrillas  or  rioters,  eight 
died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  nine  died  through  acci 
dents  occurring  in  line  of  duty,  and  seventy-three  Avere 
wounded  in  action,  making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two.  The  mortuary  record,  he  says,  is  proportion 
ately  larger  than  that  of  any  other  staff  corps . 

The  two  days'  rest  in  the  ravine  was  of  great  service  in 
saving  the  strength  of  the  men.  The  summer  proved  to  be 
unusually  hot  and  dry,  for  which  reason,  perhaps,  we  had 
little  malarial  fever,  and  the  season  was  passed  without  any 
great  amount  of  sickness.  Still  our  numbers  were  steadily 


CONTRIBUTIONS  OF  POULTRY.  515 

growing  less  and  what  few  remained  were  worn  down  by 
constant  labor  and  exposure  ;  so  that  when  September  found 
us  back  in  North  Carolina,  at  Carolina  City,  it  was  with 
thankful  hearts  that  the  few  who  were  left  of  the  old  regi 
ment  drew  nearer  to  each  other  and  enjoyed  sweet  rest  and 
peace.  It  was  a  quiet,  pleasant  location,  and  we  had  many 
things  to  make  us  contented ;  game  was  plenty  in  the  woods, 
and  crabs,  clams,  oysters,  melons  and  sweet  potatoes  were 
easily  obtained.  Above  all,  we  had  that  rest  we  so  much 
needed,  with  only  the  memory  of  our  great  losses  to  mar 
our  happiness. 

While  the  yellow  fever  was  raging  in  New  Berne  we  were 
in  fear  that  it  would  invade  our  regiment,  but  we  had  only 
one  case  —  that  of  Egbert  B.  Strong,  of  Company  G.  Here 
we  built  a  log  hospital,  in  which  John  H.  Parker,  one  of  our 
capable  hospital  attendants,  just  promoted  to  hospital  stew 
ard,  hoped  to  preside,  but  when  just  ready  to  settle  down, 
we  were  assigned  to  another  post.  We  arrived  at  Beaufort 
in  good  health  and  spirits,  and  remained  so  the  rest  of  the 
year. 

On  the  Hamilton  expedition  we  should  have  suffered  for 
want  of  provisions  had  we  not  lived  upon  the  country,  in 
compliance  with  orders.  By  the  time  we  reached  Spring 
Green  Church  there  had  been  enough  poultry  contributed  by 
the  inhabitants  to  furnish  every  man  of  us  with  a  chicken. 
The  Twenty-Seventh  and  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  hurried  off 
on  their  flank  march  without  having  time  to  cook  their  sup 
per,  and  the  next  day  our  route,  as  we  neared  Fort  Ham 
ilton,  could  be  traced  by  the  dead  fowls  that  lined  the  way. 

As  usual  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  fever  and  ague,  rheu 
matism  and  other  diseases  increased,  so  that  our  sick-list 
was  large  for  the  number  of  men  we  had.  After  the  battle 
of  South-West  Creek,  before  Capt.  Nutting  with  a  few 
detailed  men  joined  us,  the  regiment  consisted  of  the  sur 
geon,  the  hospital  attendants,  and  two  soldiers — Wilson  of 


516  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

G,  and  Bruce  of  K,  both  of  whom  had  been  captured  with 
the  regiment,  but  had  escaped. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  Surgeon  Fish,  having  been  de 
tailed  for  the  preparation  and  care  of  the  new  division,  No. 
18,  of  Foster  General  Hospital  at  New  Berne,  succeeded  in 
taking  with  him  the  thirty  men  then  present  with  the  regi 
ment,  as  patients,  to  be  employed  as  attendants  in  the  hos 
pital.  This  "Division  18"  was  located  on  the  old  Fail- 
Grounds,  occupying  the  barracks  and  a  large  number  of 
hospital  tents.  At  times  our  labors  were  very  severe,  hav 
ing  at  one  time  thirteen  hundred  different  patients  in  our 
division,  while  at  other  times  there  were  few  in  hospital,  and 
we  had  very  little  to  do.  Here  we  remained  until  the  close 
of  the  war. 

THE  SIGNAL  CORPS. 

While  in  camp  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  December,  1861,  there 
were  detailed  from  each  regiment  comprising  the  Burnside 
Expedition,  two  lieutenants  and  four  enlisted  men  as  a  signal 
corps  for  the  expedition.  Those  detailed  from  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  Mass.  Regt.  were  Lieuts.  William  F.  Barrett, 
Greenfield,  Company  C,  and  Luther  T.  Bradley,  Lee,  Com 
pany  E  ;  also  Privates  S.  Parkraan  Janes,  Westhampton, 
Company  A  ;  Alonzo  Murdock,  Northfield,  Company  B ; 
Henry  J.  Bardwell,  Amherst,  Company  D  ;  and  George  H. 
Rossiter,  Great  Barrington,  Company  E.  After  such  drill  as 
the  limited  time  previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  expedition 
allowed,  the  signal  corps  was  assigned  by  squads  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  command,  including  brigades  and  gun 
boats.  They  rendered  efficient  service  at  Roanoke  and  New 
Berne  ;  and  especially  at  the  capture  of  Fort  Macon,  where 
from  their  stations  they  directed  the  fire  of  our  guns  or  cor 
rected  their  range  when  unsatisfactory. 

In  July,  1862,  when  Gen'l  Burnside  was  ordered  to  Vir 
ginia,  he  was  accompanied  by  most  of  the  signal  corps. 


EQUIPMENT    AND    WORK    OF    THE    SIGNAL    CORPS.          517 

The  detail  from  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regt.  was  fortunate  in 
being  retained  with  Gen'l  Burnside  during  his  connection 
with  the  army  of  the  Potomac  and  also  during  the  famous 
twenty  days  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn  ,  with  its  privations 
and  sanguinary  strife.  AVhile  at  that  place,  Lieut.  Barrett 
was  complimented  by  Gen'l  Burnside  for  the  promptness 
with  which  he  opened  communication  with  Colonel  Long  of 
Gen'l  Sherman's  army,  who  was  hastening  to  the  relief  of 
Knoxville. 

The  inventor  of  this  system  of  signalling  was  Gen'l  Albert  J.  Myer, 
later  known  as  "Old  Probabilities."  He  was  born  at  Newburg,  N.  Y., 
1828;  graduated  at  Hobart  College  1847,  and  at  Bnfl'alo  Medical  Col 
lege  in  1851.  He  entered  the  army  as  an  assistant  surgeon  in  1854, 
and  while  on  duty  in  New  Mexico  under  the  exigencies  of  service, 
devised  and  put  into  practice  this  system  of  communication.  In  18GO, 
upon  his  forcible  presentation  of  the  merits  of  his  system,  the  posi 
tion  of  "Signal  Officer  of  the  Army"  was  created,  and  Surgeon  Myer 
appointed  to  fill  the  office.  Upon  the  opening  of  hostilities,  Major 
Alexander,  educated  to  this  service,  joined  the  Confederate  cause, 
necessitating  a  change  in  the  code  of  signals,  as  well  as  enforcing  watch 
fulness  on  the  part  of  the  Union  signal  force  to  discover  their  stations 
and  interpret  their  messages.  Until  1863  the  signal  corps  was  composed 
of  officers  and  men  detailed  from  volunteer  organizations,  but  at  that  time 
Congress  made  it  a  branch  of  the  regular  army,  with  the  grade  of  engineers, 
and  its  members  were  commissioned  and  mustered  into  this  corps  with 
discharge  from  their  original  regiments.  Each  army  corps  was  furnished 
with  one  captain  as  chief  signal  officer,  and  eight  lieutenants,  seven 
sergeants,  twenty  first-class  and  thirty-four  second-class  privates,  mounted 
and  equipped  as  cavalry.  A  "  signal  kit  "  consisted  of  staff,  flags,  torch- 
case  and  torches,  half-gallon  can  of  turpentine,  and  a  haversack  of  wicks, 
matches  and  shears.  The  flags  were  made  of  muslin  or  linen,  white  with 
black  centre  for  dark  backgrounds,  —  as  woods  or  dark  buildings, — 
black  with  white  centre,  for  sky  or  light  buildings,  and  red  with 
white  centre  for  use  at  sea  or  mixed  background.  Three  sizes 
were  used,  six,  four,  and  two  feet  square,  the  four  being  known  as 
the  service  flag.  The  signal  staff  consisted  of  four  joints,  each  four  feet 
long,  and  the  length  used  was  governed  by  the  distance  to  be  signalled ; 
usually  three  joints  were  sufficient.  The  flags  could  be  read  from  five  to 
twenty  miles,  as  the  atmosphere  favored,  a  cloudy  but  otherwise  clear  day 
best  answering  the  service.  On  such  a. day  a  message  was  signalled  ten 
miles  with  a  handkerchief  on  a  twelve-foot  pole.  The  torches  for  night 
work  were  eighteen  inches  long  by  one  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter,  and 


518  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

when  signalling  with  them  a  second  torch  was  placed  at  the  feet  as  an 
axis.  The  duties  of  the  corps  when  in  motion  or  adjacent  to  the  enemy 
were  to  watch  and  report  their  movements  from  some  commanding  point 
to  the  central  station,  or,  when  the  forces  were  encamped,  to  form  a  chain 
of  observation  and  repeating  stations.  These  stations  were  often  at  a 
distance  of  fifty  miles  from  army  headquarters,  as  when  McClellan  was 
at  Pleasant  Valley.  In  the  movement  of  detachments,  in  co-operation, 
the  service  was  invaluable  by  reporting  the  advance,  position,  and  experi 
ences  of  each  column.  A  notable  instance  of  its  value  was  when  Gen'l 
Sherman  signalled  from  Vining's  Station  to  Kennesaw,  from  Kennesaw  to 
Allatoona  over  the  heads  of  Hood's  army,  instructing  Gen'l  Corse  at  Rome 
to  hasten  back  to  the  assistance  of  the  Allatoona  garrison,  and  "hold  the 
fort  for  I  am  coining."  Corse  fulfilled  the  order,  and  somewhat  profanely 
signalled,  after  the  battle,  to  Gen'l  Sherman,  "  I  am  short  a  cheek-bone  and 
an  ear,  but  am  able  to  whip  all  hell  yet !  "  It  was  from  Gen'l  Sherman's 
message  to  Gen'l  Corse  the  stirring  religious  refrain  was  composed  by  P. 
P.  Bliss  — 

"  Hold  the  fort,  for  I  am  coming." 

Doubtless,  the  perfection  of  service  in  "repeating"  stations  was  reached 
during  McClellan's  masterly  inactivity,  in  the  line  from  Washington  along 
the  Potomac  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Upon  this  line  was  the  famous  "  tree 
station,"  partially  represented  in  the  heliotype,  built  in  the  top  of  a  chest 
nut  tree  sixty  feet  from  the  ground.  This  station  was  operated  by  Capts. 
F.  R.  Shattuck  of  Boston  and  W.  W.  Rowley  of  Hartford,  who,  as  a  sum 
mary  of  the  day's  proceedings,  improvised  the  familiar  message,  "  All  quiet 
on  the  Potomac."  Stations  wishing  to  communicate  with  another  would 
raise  their  flag  ( if  at  night,  a  torch ),  the  signal  officer  with  field-glass 
watching  the  station  called,  while  the  flag,  or  torch,  was  swung  from  right 
to  left  until  the  station  called  responded  with  two  dips  to  the  left. 
The  officer  called  off  the  message,  while  the  men  signalled  it;  one 
or  more  dips  to  the  right  or  left,  or  a  combination  of  both  motions, 
indicated  a  letter  of  the  alphabet  or  an  abbreviation  or  contraction  of  a 
word  or  sentence,  and  each  of  those  motions  was  designated  by  a 
number.  For  instance  —  A  was  "22,"  two  dips  to  the  left  and 
up  to  the  centre;  B,  "2112,"  one  dip  to  the  left,  over  to  the  right,  up  to 
centre,  down  to  right,  over  to  left  and  up  to  centre ;  C,  "  121,"  one  to  right, 
over  to  left,  back  to  right  and  up  to  centre.  Ends  of  words,  sentences  or 
messages  were  indicated  by  one,  two  or  three  dips  to  the  front.  The 
force  became  so  expert  in  sending  and  reading,  that  a  closely  written 
page  of  foolscap  could  be  signalled  in  from  twenty  to  thirty  minutes.  In 
the  presence  of  the  enemy,  all  important  messages  were  signalled  in  cipher 
by  the  "  disc  code,"  which  consisted  of  two  card-board  wheels,  one  smaller 
than  the  other,  revolving  on  a  common  centre.  On  the  circumference  of 
the  smaller  was  the  alphabet,  arranged  in  irregular  sequence,  and  on  the 
larger  the  signal  numbers  indicating  the  letters.  By  moving  the  small 


CHANGES    IN   THE    SYSTEM.  519 

disc,  only,  a  number  might  indicate  any  letter,  to  interpret  which,  it  was 
necessary  that  an  understanding  existed  between  the  officers  as  to  the  key 
letter  and  number  used.  At  some  stations  and  fields,  where  difficult  to 
find  suitable  elevations  for  flag  service,  telegraph  lines  were  maintained 
by  the  signal  corps ;  the  wire  being  insulated  with  rubber  covering,  and 
magnetic  instruments  with  ten  miles  of  wire  carried  on  wagons.  The 
wire  could  be  run  out  rapidly,  and  was  strung  on  limbs  of  trees,  or  on 
light  poles  carried  for  the  purpose,  or,  if  in  haste,  laid  upon  the  ground, 
and  as  easily  reeled  up  for  removal.  Many  improvements,  suggested  by 
the  experiences  of  the  war,  have  been  made  in  the  signal  service,  includ 
ing  the  adoption  of  the  telephone ;  so  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1880  Gen'l  Myer  was  better  than  ever  prepared,  in  the  event  of  war,  to 
render  efficient  aid  to  the  government  with  this  branch  of  the  army. 


520  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  MASS.  REGIMENTAL  ASSOCIATION. 

NOVEMBER  2,  1872,  the  surviving  members  of  the  regi 
ment  met  at  the  town  hall  at  Northampton,  and  organized 
the  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Regimental  Association,  in  which 
any  honorably  discharged  member  of  the  regiment  may 
unite,  its  object  being  "to  sustain  the  relations  cultivated 
amidst  scenes  of  mutual  sufferings  and  clangers,  to  keep 
alive  the  memory  of  the  fallen,  as  well  as  to  record  in  some 
tangible  form  the  history  and  services  of  the  regiment." 

Under  this  organization,  reunions  have  been  held  each 
year,  and  efforts  have  been  made  to  revive  and  collect  its 
records.  For  years  Rev.  C.  L.  Woodworth,  its  former 
chaplain,  was  elected  its  historian  —  a  gentleman  every  way 
fitted  for  the  work  by  education,  experience  and  sympathy 
—  and  it  is  sincerely  to  be  regretted  that  he  reported  in 
1879  :  "  My  time  and  attention  is  so  fully  occupied  I  have 
no  reason  to  think  I  shall  be  able  to  serve  you  in  this  capac 
ity."  Comrade  Lafayette  Clapp  succeeded  him,  and  un 
fortunately  for  us,  he,  too,  was  unable  to  accomplish  the 
work.  As  a  last  resort  the  work  was  assumed  by  the 
writer,  with  no  idea  of  special  fitness,  but  with  the  feeling 
that  a  regiment  which  holds  the  palm  in  marks  of  service 
and  suffering  over  any  other  regiment -which  left  our  State, 
was  entitled  to  that  record.  This  record  is  offered  to  our 
readers,  not  in  a  spirit  of  invidious  comparison  with  other 
regiments,  but  simply  in  that  of  the  proverb,  "  Honor  to 


DISCOVERY    OF    THE    LOST   BANNERS.  521 

whom  honor  is  due."  That  we  bore  the  heaviest  loss  from 
our  State  is  not  urged  as  proof  of  valor  above  that  of  our 
comrades-in-arms,  but  as  proof  that  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Mass.  Regt.  shrank  from  no  sacrifice  to  attest  its  sincere  de 
votion  to  the  State  and  Union. 

The  Twenty-Seventh  Mass.  Eegt.  Association  has  made 
persistent  effort  to  secure  the  name  and  residence  of  every 
surviving  member.  They  report  on  their  rolls  to-day  four 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  members,  and  it  is  considered 
possible  that  the  surviving  members  of  the  organization, 
which  included  fifteen  hundred  and  fifty-seven  men  during 
the  war,  may  to-day  number  five  hundred  men.  It  is  a 
sad  commentary  on  the  ravages  of  time  ;  for  if  this  be  true 
and  a  fair  basis  from  which  to  reckon,  then,  of  that  grand 
army  of  two  millions  and  more  of  loyal  men  who  rushed  to 
their  country's  defence,  one  and  a  half  millions  have  received 
a  final  muster  from  the  strifes  of  earth,  and  reported  above. 
Statistics  corroborate  these  facts,  and  in  another  decade,  the 
veteran  will  be  but  "  a  reserve  "  waiting  to  join  the  command 
beyond. 

In  May,  1880,  Comrade  Charles  C.  Loud  of  Northamp 
ton,  while  temporarily  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  discovered  the 
flags  wrested  from  us  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  and  upon  reporting 
it  to  the  association,  its  president,  Luke  Lyman,  Esq.,  of 
Northampton,  and  its  treasurer,  W.  P.  Derby  of  Springfield, 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  regain  possession  of  them. 
This  committee  placed  the  matter  in  the  care  of  Hon.  George 
D.  Robinson,  member  of  Congress  from  the  Twelfth  District, 
with  the  circumstances  connected  with  their  loss,  and  a 
month  later,  received  notice  through  him  of  the  willingness 
of  the  War  Department  to  return  the  same.  They  were  re 
ceived  by  Gen'l  H.  C.  Lee  about  Jan.  1,  1881,  when  a  call 
was  made  for  a  rally  to  receive  our  colors  at  the  Opera 
House,  Springfield,  Feb.  22,  1881.  It  being  through  the 
success  of  our  arms  this  occasion  was  possible,  E.  K.  Wil- 


522  TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

cox  Post  lb',  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  was  invited  to 
join  with  us,  and  heartily  united  in  the  festivities  of  the  day. 

The   following   notices    of    the   press   are    gratefully  re 
corded  :  — 

[Republican  Notice,  Feb.  22,  '81.] 

THE  DEAR  OLD  FLAGS.  —  HOW  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  WILL  WELCOME 
THEM.  —  THE  WAY  THEY  WERE  LOST,  AND  THE  LIVES  IT  COST  TO 
CAPTURE  THEM. 

It  is  nearly  twenty  years  since  Col.  II.  C.  Lee  led  a  band  of  nine  hundred 
and  eighty  gallant  men,  known  as  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers,  through  the  streets  of  Springfield,  on  their  way  to 
that  unknown  locality,  fraught  with  so  many  dark  forebodings,  "  the 
front."  The  men,  women  and  children  of  the  city  and  Western  Massa 
chusetts,  who  saw  that  inarch  from  Camp  Reed  on  the  Sixteen  Acres 
road  to  the  depot  that  November  Saturday  afternoon,  have  by  no  means 
forgotten  it,  or  the  subsequent  history  of  the  regiment.  But  there  are 
very  many  of  our  citizens  to-day  who  need  an  explanation  of  the  pageant 
which  we  are  to  Avitness  in  connection  with  the  return  of  the  battle-flags 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  to  Springfield,  and  their  lodgement  for 
safe-keeping  in  the  city  librar}'.  And  this  explanation  must  necessarily 
include  an  outline  of  the  regimental  history. 

The  tattered  flags  on  which  the  Music  Hall  curtain  will  rise  at  12.30  to 
day,  once  comprised  three  stands  of  colors,  one  national  and  two  state, 
two  of  which,  a  national  and  a  state  flag,  were  the  original  colors  which 
the  regiment  carried  to  the  war,  and  were  provided  by  the  Commonwealth. 
The  other  banner,  bearing  the  Massachusetts  coat  of  arms  on  a  silk  fab 
ric,  was  presented  by  the  women  of  Springfield  in  the  early  summer  of 
1862,  as  a  mark  of  their  appreciation  of  the  meritorious  services  rendered 
by  the  regiment  in  the  North  Carolina  spring  campaign,  as  a  part  of  the 
Burnside  Expedition.  All  of  these  colors  were  captured  by  the  enemy  at 
Drewry's  Bluff,  Va. ,  on  the  James  River,  ten  miles  below  Richmond,  on  the 
morning  of  May  16,  1864,  when  nine  officers  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  men  were  captured  and  taken  to  Richmond,  many  officers  and  men 
being  killed  or  wounded.  The  regimental  organization  remained  intact, 
however,  till  the  very  end  of  the  war,  and  another  set  of  flags  were  issued 
to  it,  and  were  duly  returned  to  the  state  house  on  battle-flag  day  in  1865. 
The  original  banners  were  torn  from  their  staffs  by  the  enemy,  folded  up 
and  laid  away  among  the  Confederate  archives  at  Richmond,  and  eventu 
ally  came  into  the  possession  of  the  national  government  with  all  the 
other  official  belongings  of  the  "lost  cause."  They  were  placed  in  the 
government  building  at  Washington  devoted  to  the  relics  of  the  war,  and 
two  of  them  were  casually  discovered  there  last  spring  by  a  Northamp- 


THE    JUBILEE    OF    THE    REGIMENT.  523 

ton  member  of  the  regiment.  Successful  application  was  made  for  all 
three  through  Congressman  Robinson,  who  had  some  trouble  in  finding 
the  "ladies'  flag,"  and  who  deserves  much  credit  for  his  efforts  in  behalf 
of  the  regiment.  Although  they  are  to  be  deposited  in  the  city  library  it 
is  with  the  proviso  that  they  are  to  remain  the  property  of  the  regimental 
association  until  that  becomes  extinct,  after  which  they  will  belong  to 
the  city. 

[Republican  Notice,  Feb.  23,  '81.] 

THE   JUBILEE  OF   THE   TWENTY-SEVENTH. — HOW  THE  REGIMENT  REJOICED, 
AND   WHAT   WAS   SAID    AND   DONE   YESTERDAY. 

The  business  meeting  of  the  regimental  association  was  held  at  the  hall 
in  the  morning,  presided  over  by  Col.  Lyman,  and  was  well  attended. 
The  following  is  the  text  of  the  resolutions  of  thanks  to  Congressman  Rob 
inson  :  — 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  surviving  members  of  the  Twenty  Seventh  Massachusetts 
Volunteer  Regiment  of  Infantry,  are  by  the  kindness,  courtesy  and  service  of  Hon. 
George  D.  Robinson,  member  of  Congress  for  the  Twelfth  District  placed  under 
lasting  obligations  to  him  for  his  successful  endeavor  to  recover  for  and  return  to  us 
the  colors  wrested  from  us  at  Drcwry's  Bluff,  May  16,  1864. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  him  a  soldier's  grateful  thanks  for  his  disinterested 
favor  thus  shown. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  him,  as  a  partial  estimation  of  his  services,  an  election 
as  an  honorary  member  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiment  Associa 
tion. 

The  stipulations  under  which  the  flags  are  held  are  carefully  drawn, 
being  as  follows  :  — 

The  surviving  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  Volunteer  Regi 
ment  of  Infantry  in  reunion  assembled  this  22d  day  of  February,  1881,  have  voted 
as  follows  :  That  we  deposit  the  battle-flags  of  this  regiment  with  the  city  library  of 
Springfield  for  safe-keeping,  with  the  understanding  that  when,  from  any  cause,  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Massachusetts  Regiment  Association  shall  cease  to  exist,  they 
shall  become  the  sole  and  only  property  of  the  city  of  Springfield,  to  be  preserved 
by  them  in  remembrance  of  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  this  regiment  in  defence  of 
the  nation. 

SECT.  1.  Resolved,  That  these  flags  are  deposited  with  the  city  library  with  the 
full  and  distinct  understanding  and  agreement  that  these  colors  shall  not  be  removed 
or  used  by  any  one  except  as  hereinafter  provided. 

SECT.  2.  Resolved,  That  at  the  annual  reunions  of  the  regimental  association, 
the  United  States  flag  may  be  removed,  by  the  color-bearer  of  the  association  filing 
with  said  library  his  certificate  of  election  to  that  office,  properly  signed  by  the  pres 
ident  and  secretary  of  the  association,  with  also  a  notice  of  said  reunion,  stating 
both  the  time  and  place  of  said  meeting. 

SECT.  3.  Resolved,  That  for  all  other  occasions  said  city  library  or  its  chief 
librarian  alone  shall  be  authorized  to  allow  the  removal  of  any  or  all  said  flags  upon 


524  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

the  filing  of  a  written  application  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  Association  ap 
proved  by  the  president  and  secretary  of  the  organization,  and  also  of  Gen'l  H.  C. 
Lee,  if  in  the  judgment  of  said  city  library  such  approval  could  reasonably  be 
obtained. 

SECT.  4.  Resolved,  That  upon  application  for  the  removal  of  any  or  all  such  flags 
as  hereinbefore  provided,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  library  to  require  a  receipt 
from  said  applicant  conforming  to  a  prescribed  formula. 

SECT.  5.  Resolved,  That  whenever  requisition  for  these  flags  shall  be  made 
previous  to  the  day  mentioned  in  the  call  for  the  reunion,  as  filed  with  said  library, 
unless  such  request  is  approved  by  the  president  of  the  association  on  the  certifi 
cate  of  office,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  library  to  refuse  to  honor  said  application 
until  the  appointed  day. 

The  election  as  an  honorary  member  of  our  association 
was  accepted  by  Congressman  Robinson.  Hon.  H.  G. 
Knight  has  also  been  elected  to  honorary  membership  for 
distinguished  favors  during  and  since  the  war. 

[Republican  Notice,  Feb.  23,  '81.] 

The  battle-flags  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  rest  in  the  city  library,  along 
with  the  tattered  banners  of  the  Tenth.  They  were  welcomed  back  to 
Springfield  right  royally  yesterday,  after  twenty  years  of  absence ;  wel 
comed  with  martial  music,  heartfelt  eulogy  and  an  enthusiasm  such  as 
only  a  soldier  knows  when  his  eye  lights  once  more  on  the  flag  from 
which  he  has  been  separated.  There  was  little  of  spectacular  interest  in 
the  scene  at  Music.  Hall,  in  the  street  parade  where  the  only  uniforms 
were  those  of  the  musicians,  in  the  gathering  for  dinner  at  the  hotel.  But 
there  was  a  deep  and  lasting  sentiment  pervading  the  whole.  "  Spring- 
field, "  said  Major  Brewster,  "  will  be  the  better  for  this  day;  better  men 
will  live  here  because  of  it."  The  previously  arranged  programme  was 
carried  out  in  its  entirety.  The  Grand  Army  Post  escorted  the  invited 
guests  from  the  Massasoit  House  to  Music  Hall  a  little  after  noon,  where 
the  regiment  were  already  assembled,  together  with  a  good  audience  of 
men,  women  and  children.  The  invited  guests  and  Colt's  Band  were 
placed  on  the  stage,  behind  the  curtain.  The  guests  included  Mayor 
Haile,  Key.  Washington  Gladden,  chaplain  of  the  day,  and  various  offi 
cers  of  other  regiments  residing  in  this  city  and  other  parts  of  the 
State. 

The  curtain  rose  as  the  first  notes  of  "The  Star-Spangled  Banner" 
came  from  the  band.  Lieut.  Col.  Lyman  cried,  "Up,  comrades,  up!" 
and  the  regiment  sprang  to  their  feet  with  a  three  times  three  which 
probably  contained  more  volume  than  anything  those  walls  have  ever 
echoed.  Color-Bearer  Gage  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  stage-front  proudly 
waving  the  "  ladies'  flag"  of  blue,  supported  on  his  left  by  Comrade  Man- 


SPRINGFIELD    REPUBLICAN    NOTICE.  525 

ning,  who  was  with  him  at  Drewry's  Bluft',  bearing  the  white  state  flag, 
and  on  the  right  by  Comrade  Place,  with  the  national  flag.  The  latter  is 
tolerably  well  preserved,  but  the  others  are  badly  rent,  the  "heart"  of 
the  blue  flag  being  almost  wholly  gone.  After  the  first  cheering  was  over 
there  was  a  moment  of  silence,  and  then  the  shouts  burst  out  again  and 
were  swelled  to  a  louder  key  when  Col.  Lee  stepped  to  the  front.  Indeed, 
the  cries  were  so  vigorous  that  the  colonel  said,  "  Not  too  much  of  that, 
boys,  or  I  shan't  be  able  to  say  anything."  Quiet  being  restored,  he  said 
that  it  gave  him  great  pleasure  to  introduce  to  them  some  old  friends 
whom  they  seemed  to  recognize  very  well  after  a  long  absence  from  them. 
Thej"  were  never  surrendered,  but  were  taken  away  by  a  force  which  it 
was  impossible  to  resist,  and  they  are  welcomed  back  with  such  feelings 
as  only  old  soldiers  can  understand.  After  Gen'l  Lee's  remarks  the  band 
struck  up  a  medley  of  familiar  airs,  beginning  with  the  reveille.  When  they 
came  to  "Marching  through  Georgia"  the  soldiers  joined  in  the  chorus, 
and  they  sang  "The  Battle-Cry  of  Freedom"  on  their  feet.  Gen'l  Lee 
said  that  he  was  very  sorry  to  have  to  announce  that  Geu'l  Heckman 
could  not  be  present,  regretting  that  the  return  of  an  old  disease,  con 
tracted  at  Libb}T,  prevented  his  coming. 

The  address  of  Chaplain  C.  L.  Wooclworth,  which  followed  Mr.  Glad- 
den's  prayer,  was  about  half  an  hour  long,  and  received  the  earnest  atten 
tion  which  it  merited.  He  told  how  carefully  he  watched  those  colors 
from  the  time  they  first  left  this  city,  through  many  varying  battles,  hold 
ing  them  next  in  honor  to  the  cross  of  the  Saviour.  "  Those  years  that  I 
spent  with  you  in  the  army,"  said  he,  "  made  up  an  intense  point  in  my  life. 
The  tendencies  toward  right  thought  and  action  were  the  strongest  then. 
Somehow,  although  I  have  tried  to  do  my  duty  as  it  fell  to  me,  the  years 
since  then  have  seemed  tame.  What  tides  of  memory  come  floating  back 
'on  us  to-day!  Memories  of  our  gallant  comrades  who  never  came  back, 
who  in  their  death  became  the  seed  of  a  better  history  for  this  republic. 
These  banners  mean  much  more  than  when  we  bore  them  hence.  The 
flag  is  richer,  for  it  is  the  flag  of  humanity.  We  have  melted  the  chains 
of  the  slave.  We  have  made  free  the  men  who  nursed  our  sick,  buried 
our  dead,  helped  us  to  escape  from  prison.  Beneath  that  flag  human 
nature  is  ever  secure.  Nations  are  glorified  by  suffering,  by  a  baptism  of 
blood.  Neither  is  there  glory  to  the  individual  except  through  suffering." 
At  this  point  the  speaker  reminded  his  audience  that  the  "Mayflower" 
and  the  Dutch  brig  bearing  a  cargo  of  slaves  came  to  this  country  the 
same  year,  and  that  for  nearly  two  and  a  half  centuries  the  good  and  the 
bad  seed  then  sown  was  allowed  to  bear  its  legitimate  fruit  side  by  side. 
"  To  what  better  end  could  wre  have  spent  seven  or  eight  billions  of  money 
and  laid  in  the  grave  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  of  our  best  young 
men  than  the  breaking  of  the  shackles  of  the  slave?  We  builded  better 
than  we  knew.  But  was  it  worth  the  cost?  Yea,  verily,  for  before  we 
were  out  of  harmony  with  the  law  of  the  universe.  We  gained  person- 


52  6  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    EEGIMENT. 

ally  by  the  war.  Would  any  one  of  you  surrender  the  memories  of  those 
years  for  any  millions  that  could  be  offered  you?  I  tell  you  no!  The 
republic  is  richer.  If  those  memories  could  be  wholly  blotted  out  and  her 
battle-flags  burned,  how  irretrievable  the  loss !  Year  by  year  we  are 
taking  to  ourselves  five  hundred  thousand  people  from  the  old  world. 
We  are  the  star  of  hope  to  humanity.  The  cost  of  a  redeemed  country  is 
none  too  great.  If  we  do  not  see  the  full  and  adequate  reward  of  our  sac 
rifices  now,  we  shall  hereafter." 

The  exercises  at  the  hall  were  all  over  in  an  hour,  and  then  there  was  a 
parade  to  the  library.  First  came  the  Hutchins  drum  band,  then  the 
Grand  Army,  eighty  men,  Colt's  Band,  Col.  Lee  and  invited  guests,  and 
finally  the  regiment,  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  Lyman.  Mayor  Haile  stood  at  the  head  of  the  first  tier  of  the  library 
steps,  and  after  the  regiment  had  faced  him,  the  color-bearers  carried  the 
flags  up  the  steps,  and  Col.  Lyman  in  a  few  brief  words  handed  them  over 
to  the  mayor,  with  a  copy  of  the  stipulations  under  which  the  city  are  to 
hold  them,  imploring  him  to  see  that  they  are  well  preserved,  because  the 
the  men  before  him  "  clearly  loved  those  tattered  rags."  The  mayor  as 
sured  him  that  they  would  be  carefully  and  tenderly  cherished  by  the  city, 
with  other  historical  archives,  "  as  a  memorial  to  our  children  and  our  chil 
dren's  children,  long  after  we  have  passed  away,  of  the  valor  and  patriot 
ism  of  the  regiment." 

We   collate  the   following   from   a  generous   two-column 
notice  of  the  "  Springfield  Union,"  Feb.  22,  1881  :- 

The  gallant  old  Twenty-Seventh  Eegiment  enjoyed  in  a  measure  some 
recompense  for  its  valuable  services  when  the  country  was  in  peril,  by 
gathering  at  Music  Hall  in  this  city  and  receiving  again  the  national 
and  state  flags  which  were  wrested  from  them  at  Drewry's  Bluff  under  a 
terrible  fire,  and  virtually  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

The  day  was  all  that  could  be  desired,  the  air  crisp  and  bracing,  the 
sun  just  warm  enough  to  temper  the  northern  breezes,  and  the  sky  as 
clear  as  a  bell.  Early  in  the  morning  the  stars  and  stripes  began  to 
appear  upon  the  roofs  of  the  public  buildings  and  business  blocks,  and 
by  10  o'clock  a  score  or  more  of  flags  were  displayed  from  the  Main  Street 
buildings.  D.  H.  Brigham  &  Co.  exhibited  a  handsome  store  front,  pro 
fusely  decorated  with  flags  and  shields.  Across  Main  Street  from  the 
post-office  building  a  large  flag  was  suspended. 

The  gathering  was  one  of  pleasure,  indeed,  and  the  eyes  of  scores  of 
men  looked  again  upon  the  flags  for  the  first  time  since  on  that  eventful 
day,  amid  the  smoke  and  rush  of  battle,  the  flags  were  torn  from  their 
grasp  and  disappeared  from  their  view,  to  be  placed  among  other  trophies 
in  the  treasury  building  at  Richmond.  All  of  the  men  who  fought  under 


NEW    ENGLAND    HOMESTEAD    NOTICE.  527 

the  flags  that  day  were  not  present  at  to-day's  joyful  gathering.  Many 
closed  their  eyes  in  death  on  the  field  or  died  in  rebel  prisons.  There 
was  not  one  of  the  brave  men  who  sat  in  the  hall  and  gazed  at  the  torn 
and  tattered  colors  whose  eyes  did  not  fill  at  the  remembrance  of  com 
rades,  tried  and  true  as  steel,  who  lie  buried  under  Southern  skies. 

At  12.40  the  bell  struck,  and  as  the  curtain  passed  upward  and  out  of 
sight  of  the  veterans,  there  upon  the  stage  stood  Color-bearers  Gage, 
Place  and  Manning,  with  their  colors  in  their  hands.  The  men  rose  to 
their  feet  with  one  accord,  and  cheer  upon  cheer  burst  from  every  throat, 
the  band  adding  to  the  general  enthusiasm  by  the  Star  Spangled  Banner. 
After  a  time  quiet  was  restored,  and  Gen'l  H.  C.  Lee,  with  much  emotion, 
addressed  the  regiment  briefly,  saying  that  he  had  the  pleasure  of  pre 
senting  some  old  friends  which  every  one  seemed  to  recognize.  Years 
ago,  in  the  camp  on  the  hill  in  this  city,  the  colors  were  presented,  and  the 
regiment  promised  to  cherish  and  protect  them.  These  colors  were  not 
surrendered,  but  were  wrested  from  the  bearers  by  sheer  force  and  under 
circumstances  which  no  one  could  control.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that 
two  of  the  flags  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  men  from  whom  they  were 
taken.  While  the  colors  are  not  as  beautiful  as  when  they  were  first  pre 
sented,  they  are  more  sacred  to  the  members  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Regiment.  The  General  closed  his  remarks  amidst  vociferous  cheers. 

[Homestead,  Feb   26,  '81.] 

THE    GALLANT    TWENTY-SEVENTH.  —  RESTORING    THE     OLD    BANNERS.  — 
SOME   OF   THE   LETTERS   FROM   ABSENT   COMRADES. 

It  was  a  faultless  day  which  ''oldProb"  furnished  to  welcome,  on 
Tuesday,  the  veterans  of  the  gallant  old  Twenty-Seventh  Regiment ;  and 
though  our  staid  city  repressed  its  old-time  emotion,  the  suu  came  out 
with  a  most  expressive  smile,  and  nature,  like  a  modest  maiden  welcom 
ing  her  guests,  donned  a  clean  "  bib  and  tucker"  in  the  shape  of  a  gauzy 
robe  of  snow.  It  was  a  day  of  days  to  "  the  boys  "  as  they  gathered  from 
far  and  near  to  welcome  home  again  those  dear  old  flags,  consecrated  by 
the  lives  of  nearly  four  hundred  comrades  who  had  fallen  whilst  in 
active  service. 

It  would  have  amply  rewarded  any  one  to  have  seen  the  constantly 
increasing  crowd  before  and  within  Music  Hall  exchanging  greetings 
from  nine  A.  M  till  nearly  one  P.  M.,  until  at  the  appointed  time,  nearly  two 
hundred  and  fifty  stood  before  the  curtain,  waiting  for  it  to  rise  that  their 
eyes  once  more  might  rest  on  those  friends  of  yore. 

When  the  curtain  rose,  they  too  arose,  and  with  three  times  three  made 
that  house  ring  with  their  glad  voices,  tears  streaming  down  many  a  manly 
face  whose  forms  were  now  crowned  by  hoary  heads  and  marks  of  declin 
ing  years.  Gen'l  Lee  came  forward  to  address  them,  and  this  but  excited 
more  uproarious  enthusiasm,  until  he  was  obliged  to  say,  "Boys,  if  you 


528  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

don't  stop  this,  I  shan't  be  able  to  say  anything,"  and  it  did  require  a  very 
perceptible  effort  for  him  to  restrain  the  deep  feelings  which  moved  him, 
as  those  colors  and  familiar  faces  brought  to  mind  the  eventful  days  of 
service. 

Chaplain  Woodworth  proved  himself  as  much  at  home  as  when  in  the 
tented  field  he  daily  surprised  the  men  in  their  games  of  whist  by  his 
whole-hearted  "  Good  morning,  boys !  how  are  you  to-day?"  With  fitly 
chosen,  though  unwritten  words,  for  over  half  an  hour  he  held  his  audience 
to  the  end. 

"  There's  something  out  of  kilter  to-day,"  said  the  boys,  as  they  formed 
in  line  on  Pynchon  Street,  "it  always  rains  when  the  Twenty-Seventh 
moves."  The  slosh  which  "  old  Sol"  had  made  of  nature's  morning  gown 
was  nothing  compared  with  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  mud.  Escorted 
by  the  gallant  veterans  of  our  own  homes,  B.  K.  Wilcox  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
led  by  Hutchins'  drum  corps,  they  marched  to  the  city  library  and  for 
mally  turned  over  to  Mayor  Haile  those  tattered  banners,  with  the  request 
that  the  city  would  cherish  and  preserve  them,  and  right  loyally  our  mayor 
promised  fealty  to.the  trust. 

The  veterans  then  repaired  to  the  Haynes  Hotel.  When  the  feast  was 
concluded,  Secretary  W.  P.  Derby  of  Springfield  read  the  following  letters 
of  regret : — 

FROM  HON.  GEOEGE  D.  RODINSON,  MEMBER  OF  CONGRESS. 

The  pressure  of  official  duties  during  the  closing  days  of  the  present  session  com 
pels  me  to  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  attending  the  reunion  of  the  veterans  of  the 
Twenty-Seventh  Regiment  on  the  22d  inst.,  but  I  beg  you  to  receive  from  me,  and 
to  express  to  all  your  comrades,  my  grateful  appreciation  of  the  honor  of  your  invi 
tation.  The  old  colors,  emblematic  of  the  State  and  the  nation,  are  again  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  bore  them  to  the  bloody  fields  of  battle,  in  the  defence  of  Amer 
ican  civilization  and  liberty.  Shot-pierced  and  storm-rent,  they  speak  a  language 
beyond  the  power  of  words  to  express.  They  tell  of  fatigue,  of  perils,  of  death. 
They  bring  before  you  again  the  forms  and  faces  of  those,  once  your  comrades, 
whose  dying  eyes  closed  in  a  last  look  at  these  sacred  emblems.  They  recall  the 
thrilling  appeal  to  heroism  and  the  gladdening  cheer  of  victory.  They  kindle  anon 
and  more  intensely  the  fire  of  loyalty  in  every  patriot  heart.  To  none  can 
these  tattered  and  blood-stained  relics  be  better  entrusted  than  to  those  who  never 
permitted  them  to  go  down  in  dishonor,  whose  valor  and  devotion  contributed  to 
the  greatest  achievements  in  American  history.  Accept  for  yourself  and  for  those 
who  meet  with  you  my  warmest  greeting. 

FROM  GEN'L  C.  A.  HECKMAN  OF  PHILLIPSBURO,  N.  J. 

To  look  upon  your  recovered  treasures,  and  mingle  with  the  bold  and  true  who 
so  gallantly  and  successfully  defended  them  on  many  hard  contested  fields,  would 
indeed  afford  me  great  pleasure.  But  I  am,  unfortunately,  in  the  condition  of  the 
fellow  who  looked  longingly  upon  the  luscious  fruit,  but  could  not  reach  it.  I  have 
been  confined  to  the  house  since  October  last  (my  old  disease  contracted  while  so- 


LONGING    TO   BE   WITH   US.  529 

journing  at  the  Hotel  cle  Libby),  and  perforce  will  have  to  forego  the  pleasure  it 
would  give.  But  I  will  think  of  you  all,  as  in  great  joy  you  once  again  rally  round 
your  colors,  covered'  with  marks  of  heroism.  Remember  me  to  the  boys. 

FROM  GEN'L  J.  L.  OTIS  OF  NORTHAMPTON. 

If  I  am  not  there,  say  the  very  best  things  you  can  think  of  to  the  boys  in  my  be 
half,  and  then  you  won't  half  represent  the  warm  sympathy  which  I,  in  common 
with  the  whole  Tenth  Conn.  Regiment,  feel  towards  them.  Accept  my  best  wishes, 
that  you  may  have  just  as  good  a  time  as  you  deserve  —  and  you  can't  possibly  have 
anything  better. 

FROM  COL.  A.  B.  R.  SPRAGCE,  OF  WORCESTER,  TWENTY-FIFTH  MASS.  REGT. 

The  friendships  formed  on  the  tented  field  in  the  day  of  our  nation's  peril  are 
lasting.  I  deeply  regret  that  I  cannot  embrace  the  opportunity  offered  to  meet  old 
friends  and  revive  old  memories  so  dear  to  comrades  who  marched  under  the  old 
flag  and  fought  in  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity.  I  recall  the  fact  that  I  was  a 
field  officer  in  the  same  brigade  with  the  Twenty-Seventh  when  they  first  met  the 
enemy  at  Roanoke  Island,  in  the  spring  of  1862;  and,  after  serving  in  different 
fields  for  more  than  two  years,  we  met  in  the  field  in  the  same  division  before  Kins- 
ton  in  their  last  engagement  with  the  enemy,  in  the  spring  of  18S5. 

FROM  COL.  PICKETT,  OF  WORCESTER,  TWENTY-FIFTH  MASS.  REGT. 

I  expect  you  will  have  a  grand  good  time  —  and  you  ought  to  — over  the  recov 
ery  of  your  standard.  That  was  a  dirty  morning  when  we  were  thrown  uselessly 
into  the  lion's  jaws  and  left  to  our  fate ;  for,  properly  supported,  we  should  have 
whipped  those  rebel  gentlemen  out  of  their  boots,  and  the  trouble  would  have  been 
on  the  other  side. 

FROM  CAPT.  J.  L.  SKINNER,  OF  SACRAMENTO,  CAL. 

Comrades  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  :  Although  there  is  a  continent  between  us,  and 
I  cannot  be  present  with  you  in  the  body  on  this  "jubilee"  occasion,  I  shall  be 
present  with  you  in  spirit.  I  shall  think  of  nothing  else  "  from  early  morn  till 
dewy  eve";  and  that  I  may  the  more  effectually  shut  out  all  intruding  thoughts  I 
shall  confine  myself  on  this  day  to  regular  rations  of  hard-tack  and  coffee.  So, 
while  this  letter  is  being  read,  you  can  all  think  of  me  in  my  pleasant  home  in  the 
"  city  of  the  plains  "  in  the  wonderful  "  golden  State,"  engaged  in  the  aforesaid  occu 
pation  of  partaking  of  hard-tack  and  coffee,  with  my  thoughts  far  away  with  my 
former  comrades-in-arms  in  the  city  of  Springfield,  in  the  old  "  Bay  State." 

Comrades,  I  love  you  all,  and  only  regret  my  inability  to  be  with  you.  Allow  me 
in  closing  to  present  this  sentiment :  — 

THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH  KEGIMENT  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS  :— When  none  are 
left  to  have  a  reunion  on  this  side  the  river,  may  we  have  a  reunion  on  the  other  side,  In 
the  land  where  time  and  space  are  annihilated;  and  may  every  comrade  of  tho  Twenty- 
Seventh  be  present  at  roll-call. 


530  TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


FROM  LIEUT.  E.  M.  JILLSON,  OF  MIDDLE-TOWN,  0. 

Be  kind  enough  to  express  to  my  old  comrades  my  heartfelt  gratitude  tliat  the  old 
colors  are  where  they  were  first  received  by  the  regiment  and  intrusted  to  their 
keeping  nearly  twenty  years  ago.  The  ladies  of  Springfield  must  feel  gratified  that 
their  banner  is  with  the  old  guard  again.  Unable  to  be  with  you  in  the  flesh,  I  am 
with  you  in  spirit;  and  may  the  day  be  one  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  whose 
sacrifices  are  shown  in  its  tattered  folds. 

FROM  LIEUT.  E.  L.  PECK,  or  WESTFIELD. 

I  regret  that  I  cannot  rally  with  the  old  Twenty-Seventh  boys  around  our  colors 
on  the  22d.  I  have  a  renewed  interest  in  them  now,  as  1  visited  the  battle-field  of 
Drewry's  BlutF  on  the  10th  of  November  last  and  fought  the  battle  over  again  in 
memory,  standing  on  the  same  ground  where  we  stood  that  morning  of  May  16th, 
and  where  marks  of  the  graves  of  our  fallen  are  still  to  be  seen.  I  formed  the 
acquaintance  of  Lieut.  Elliott,  Eleventh  Virginia  Infantry,  Kemper's  Brigade,  which 
formed  a  part  of  the  column  that  charged  our  front.  Together  we  reviewed  the 
battle,  he  testifying  strongly  to  the  stubborn  resistance  of  Heckman's  Brigade  against 
the  successive  charges  made  by  his  division  on  our  line,  and  to  the  terrible  effect  of 
our  fire  on  the  ranks  of  the  brave  Virginians  in  our  front.  I  tried  to  trace  the 
route  taken  by  the  few  of  us  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  escape  capture  that 
morning;  but  I  doubt  if  any  of  the  party,  who  skedaddled  so  neatly  through  that 
swamp,  took  pains  to  notice  any  landmarks.  We  were  endeavoring  to  "  preserve 
the  Twenty-Seventh,"  and  each  man  did  his  utmost  to  preserve  his  individual  part 
of  it! 

Please  say  to  the  boys  that  my  heart  is  with  them  on  this  occasion,  and  always. 
I  trust  our  friendship  for  each  other  may  grow  stronger  until  there  is  nothing  left 
of  the  Twenty-Seventh  but  the  Old  Flag. 

After  the  letters  had  been  read,  Col.  Shurtleff,  of  the  Forty-Sixth,  was 
called  to  speak.  He  pointed  out  the  fact  that  the  Drewry's  Bluff  struggle 
was  a  gallant  one  on  both  sides,  and  remarked  that  the  hearts  of  the 
soldiers  on  both  sides  reach  out  toward  each  other  to-day,  and  those  of 
the  whole  American  people  beat  as  one,  if  politicians  and  demagogues  will 
only  let  them  alone.  And  they  are  coming  to  repudiate  any  interference 
that  keeps  them  apart.  These  sentiments  were  vigorously  applauded. 
Col.  Shurtleff  spoke  very  pleasantly  of  his  association  with  the  Twenty- 
Seventh  in  North  Carolina.  Rev.  Washington  Gladden  spoke  of  the  death 
of  a  brother  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and  of  the  blessed  heritage  the 
sacrifice  of  that  life  is  proving  to  him  and  his  children.  Capt.  Dwight 
spoke  very  feelingly,  and  received  great  applause.  He  said  that  the 
soldiers  of  the  war  secured  for  themselves  a  grander  monument  than  was 
ever  cut  in  marble — the  United  States  of  America.  He  was  glad  that 
since  1865  each  president  elected  had  been  a  veteran  soldier.  He  would 
rather  trust  the  country  in  the  hands  of  the  soldier  than  the  politician. 
He  made  a  touching  allusion  to  the  recent  death  of  Adjt.  J.  W.  Holmes, 
and  mentioned  the  fact  that  the  first  use  made  of  the  recovered  national 
flag  was  to  place  it  as  a  drapery  about  his  coffin. 


FRATERNAL  GREETINGS.  531 

Loud  cries  for  "Col.  Luke"  failed  to  bring  any  response  from  Col. 
Lymau  except  that  lie  said  he  was  ready  to  do  any  work  for  the  Twenty- 
Seventh,  but  was  not  a  talker  and  would  not  make  a  fool  of  himself  that 
way.  Color-Bearer  Gage  spoke  briefly,  saying  that  he  had  given  up  his 
flag  to  the  mayor  with  much  greater  pleasure  than  when  he  gave  it  up  on 
a  previous  occasion.  He  Avas  still  ready  to  do  a  soldier's  duty,  but  he  had 
learned  that  an  enlisted  man  was  expected  to  work  and  not  to  talk.  Col. 
Whelden  of  Pittsflekl  testified  that  the  Twenty-Seventh  was  the  best  regi 
ment  for  provost  duty  he  ever  knew,  and  that  when  he  was  marshal  of 
Norfolk  seventeen  men  and  a  sergeant  from  that  regiment  kept  a  popula 
tion  of  forty  thousand  as  quiet  as  any  New  England  city.  Commander 
Smith  spoke  for  Wilcox  Post,  J.  W.  Hersey  for  the  Tenth  Mass.,  Maj.  H. 
M.  Brewster  for  the  Fifty-Seventh  New  York  and  Judge  Wells  for  the 
Forty- Sixth. 

A  regiment  with  such  associations  cannot,  in  loyalty  to 
itself  and  to  its  martyred  dead,  he  otherwise  than  patriotic 
and  law-abiding  citizens. 


ROLL    OF    HONOR 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  REGIMENT 

MASSACHUSETTS     VOLUNTEERS, 


'They  live,  the  fallen  live,  though  ages  fly; 
God  made  the  right  eternal,  its  defenders  never  die." 


NOTE. 

Our  Government  has  taken  up  the  bodies  of  the  Union  soldiers  and  buried  them 
in  National  cemeteries,  convenient  to  the  place  of  their  original  burial.  Comrades 
buried  in  North  Carolina  have  been  removed  to  New  Berne  ;  hence,  numbers 
against  the  names  of  those  who  died  in  that  State  refer  to  the  New  Berne  National 
Cemetery.  Where  no  numbers  appear,  it  will  be  understood  that  at  the  time  of  the 
removal,  the  bodies  could  not  be  identified.  In  other  States,  where  bodies  have 
been  removed,  the  cemetery  in  which  they  have  been  buried,  if  known,  is  noted. 
The  dates  of  death  are  those  upon  the  headstones  at  the  graves,  and  of  our  Hospital 
Record,  and  if  differing  from  the  Adjutant-General's  record,  it  is  stated  under 
"  Remarks."  Upon  some  of  the  headstones  the  inscriptions  are  in  error,  while 
upon  others  the  name  is  incomplete.  Such  facts  arc  noted  opposite  the  name,  i.  e., 
Insc.  H S ,  or  Insc. Howard. 


536 


TWENTY-SEVENTH   MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


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TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


Causes  of  Deaths. 


Disease. 

As  Prison 
ers. 

From 
Wounds. 

Killed. 

Total. 

Field  and  Staff,     . 

'    - 

- 

- 

2 

2 

Line,      

3 

- 

2 

5 

10 

Company  A,          ... 

17 

21 

3 

5 

46 

B, 

14 

15 

4 

6 

38 

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24 

19 

7 

4 

54 

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3 

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10 

42 

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7 

6 

7 

7 

27 

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10 

5 

5 

21 

41 

G, 

9 

10 

- 

6 

25 

H,        .        .        . 

13 

14 

4 

3 

34 

"I,          ... 

8 

28 

- 

4 

40 

K, 

12 

6 

6 

7 

31 

136 

127 

48 

79 

390 

ROSTER 


TWENTY-SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEER 
INFANTRY  REGIMENT, 


1861  -  1865. 


We  regret  to  be  obliged  to  differ  from  the  records  of  the  Massachu 
setts  Adjutant  General's  Office,  but  injustice  to  the  friends  of  the  regi 
ment  we  cannot  adopt  errors  which  exist  in  that  record.  We  note  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one  errors  in  the  official  record  of  our  men ;  one  of  a 
m;m  reported  dead  who  is  still  living;  some  of  men  who  died  in  the 
service  who  were  reported  discharged ;  many  deaths  and  discharges 
reported  upon  wrong  dates,  and  a  great  many  names  incorrectly  given. 
All  variations  from  the  Adjutant  General's  Records  will  be  found  in 
italics.  In  some  instances  the  spelling  of  the  names  found  in  the  body 
of  the  book  will  under  later  information  be  found  to  differ  slightly  in 
the  roster.  It  is  believed  the  names  as  given  herein  are  correct. 

To  give  as  much  information  as  possible  in  this  roster,  we  have 
adopted  the  following  abbreviations  and  signs:  — 

Pro.,      promoted.  t  Wounded. 

Res.,     resigned.  ||  Taken  prisoner. 

Disc.,    discharged.  }  Brevet  Commission. 

K'd,       killed.  %  Discharged  by  reason  of  expira- 
Wds,    wounds.  tion  of  term  of  enlistment. 

Dis.,      disability.  O.  "W  D.,  Order  War  Department. 

Trans.,  transferred.  Ret'd  Pris.,  returned  prisoner. 

Hosp.,  hospital.  V.  R.  C.,  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

D'd.,     died.  Italics,  not  like  Adjt.-Gen.  Report. 
*  Re- enlisted. 


552 


TWENTY-SEVENTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


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558 


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1,523 

IN  DEX 


Address,  Mayor  Alexander,  222,  371. 

Address,  Ex-mayor  Bemis,  372. 

Andrew,  Gov.  John  A.,  6,  7, 15,  18,  25,  203. 

Annapolis,  Md.,  24,  477. 

Andersonville,  Ga.,  377  to  407. 

Army  of  the  James,  245  to  293. 

Army  of  the  Potomac,  294  to  327. 

Arrow-field  Church,  258  to  263. 

Attacks,  on  Bachelor's  Creek,  N.  C.,  104,  141,  164,  199,  232;  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  141, 

166,  233,  242;  Plymouth,  N.  C  ,  144,  235;  Washington,  N.  C.,  123,  167;  Lee's 

Brigade,  153. 

Bachelor's  Creek,  100,  105,  107,  120,  161,  189,  200,  436,  459. 

Band,  10,  42,  46,  121. 

Bailey,  Capt.  P.  S.,  14,  17,  119,  269,  271,  292,  345,  354,  490. 

Bartlett,  Capt.  Geo.  W.,  12,  114,  204,  354,  485. 

Bartholomew,  Col.  W.  G.,  8,  14,  17,  40,  59,  99,  204,  224,  227,  260,  368,  375,  414,  44*, 
461,  462,  464,  474,  480. 

Battles,  Iloanoke  Is.,  60;  New  Berne,  80;  Camden,  105;  Kinston,  148;  Whitehall, 
150;  Goldsboro,  151 ;  Plymouth,  235;  Walthall  Junction,  252;  do  the  7th,  255; 
Arrowfield  Ch.,  258;  Drewry's  Bluff,  271 ;  Cold  Harbor,  June  2,  299;  Cold  Har 
bor,  June  3,  301;  Petersburg,  June  15,  330;  Assault  on  Petersburg,  June  18, 
336;  Mine,  360;  South- West  Creek,  458. 

Belger,  Capt.  and  Battery,  26,  36,  148,  153,  154,  218,  278,  410. 

Beaufort,  100,  127,  435.  445,  453. 

Burnside,  Gen'l  A.  E.,  24,  25,  27,  39,  49,  52,  79,  92,  96,  99,  113,  115,  116,  145,  360,  362. 

Burnside's  Expedition,  44. 

Butler,  Gen'l  B.  F.,  219,  252,  263,  267,  287,  291,  446,  455. 

Camp,  Asst.  Surg.  Sam'I,  41,  102,  499,  503,  505. 
Camps,  Reed,  8,  18,  19;  Springfield,  24,  41,  42;  Warner,  99. 
Calhoun,  Capt.  E.  R.,  45,  130. 
Carolina  City,  435,  443,  515. 
Cnswell,  Capt.  A.  W.,  17,  194,  300,  354,  488. 

Casualties,  67,  87,  156,  174,  187,  255,  256,  232,  278,  300,  310,  333,  340,  352,  353,  354, 
447,  465. 


604  INDEX. 

Character  of  our  regiment,  11,  493. 

Clark,  Capt.  E.  C.,  17,  25,  80,  100. 

Cooley,  Capt.  Horace  K.,  14,  17,  42,  125,  141,  487. 

Cold  Harbor,  294  to  327,  513. 

Colors,  14,  274,  521,  522. 

Commissions,  Sanitary,  Christian,  325. 


Davis,  Lieut.  W.  G.,  425,  427,  457,  471,  476,  492. 

Deaths  in  Rebel  Prisons,  396. 

Dennison,  Maj.  Ami  R.,  17,  55,  189,  509. 

Departure  of  troops,  116,  161,  208,  219. 

Dept.  of  N.  C.,  Ill,  116,  127,  212,  232,  435,  456. 

Destruction  of  the  Albemarle,  442. 

Dover  X  Roads,  193,  445. 

Drewry's  Bluff,  267,  335,  477,  512. 

D  wight,  Capt.  Henry  C.,  40,  101,  183,  196,  220,  253,  489. 


Edcnton,  133. 

Effective  strength  of  regiment,  19,  229,  283,  318,  353,  3io,  369,  453,  457,  462,  515. 

Enemy's  forces,  57,  81,  137,  157,  169,  198,  258,  261 ;  sketch,  287. 

Engagements  at  Butler's  Bridge,  448;  Bake  House  Creek,  292;  Core  Creek,  112, 120, 
127;  Dover  X  Roads,  189;  Foster's  Mills,  447;  Gum  Swamp,  193;  Gardner's 
Bridge,  447;  Rhall's  Mills,  137;  Rainbow  Bluff,  446;  Rocky  Hoc  Creek,  187. 

Escape  of  Nutting  and  others,  425. 

Escape  of  O'Connell  and  others,  431. 

Expeditions  to  Blackwater,  230;  Goldsboro,  14.">;  Kenansville  and  Warsaw,  211; 
Rainbow  Bluff,  446;  Rocky  Mount,  211;  Tarboro,  135;  Trenton,  118. 

Execution  of  Deserters,  437. 


Frankle,  Gen'l  Jones,  446,  450,  451. 

Flusser,  Com.  Chas.  H.,  45,  130,  188,  236. 

Fair  Grounds,  N.  C.,  86,  99,  208,  516. 

Fish,  Surg.  D.  B.  N.,  191,  258,  309,  320,  322,  354,  364,  473,  478,  486,  515. 

Fifth  R.  I.  Regt.,  26,  44,  181,  478. 

Flag  of  Truce,  121,  170,  214,  263,  321. 

Foraging,  69,  109,  138,  158,  443,  448. 

Forty-fourth  Mass.,  134,  137,  167,  168,  183,  204,  208. 

Forty-sixth  Mass.,  135,  145,  146,  147,  151,  153,  154,  156,  187,  189,  193,  19,3,  197,  199, 

208. 

Fort  Fisher,  446,  455. 
Foster,  Gen'l  J.  G.,  25,  29,  51,  79,  96,  106,  125,  139,  155,  159,  161,  167,  170,  174,  175, 

181,  182,  212,  218,  219,  415. 
Foster,  Mrs.  Gen'l  J.  G.,  33,  192. 
Foster's  Brigade,  25,  218. 
Fowler,  Lieut.  J.  H.,  17,  40,  337,  499. 
Fuller,  Capt.  G.  A.,  10,  17,  100,  488. 
Fuller,  Steward  G.  E.,  498,  499,  503,  506,  509,  510. 


INDEX.  605 

Goldshoro,  458,  465,  475. 

Grand  Review,  39,  113. 

Guerrilla,  Bark,  42,  43,  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,  50. 

Gum  Swamp,  459. 

Gunboats,  45;  Ceres,  45, 174,184;  Commodore  Perry,  4-5, 130, 137 ;  Commodore  Hull, 

169,  171,  172,  173,  175,178, 181, 184;  Hunchback ,  45, 130, 137, 166, 179;  Louisiana, 

45,  169,  172,  178,  179,  180 ;  Whitehead,  45, 166,  236. 

Hamilton,  138, 139,  448. 

Hattcras  Inlet,  47,  54,  77- 

Havelock  Station,  125. 

Heckman,  Gen'l  C.  A.,  34,  159r  211,  230,  245, 252, 253, 259, 261,  263,  265, 276,  277,  364, 

414. 

Holmes,  Adjt.  J.  W.,  462,  465,  472,  473,  479, 480. 
Hospitals,  11,  14,  41,  102,  128,  206,  495. 
Hubbard,  Capt.  H.  A.,  17,  72. 
Hubon,  Asst.  Surg.  P.  E.,  505,  50ft. 
Hunt,  Asst.  Surg  F.  L.,  141,  506. 
Hunt,  Lieut.  W.  C.,  14,  17,  42,  108,  169,  174,  178,  197,  204,  23-4,  243,  354, 

Incidents,  69, 93, 108,  121, 157, 167,  176,  185,  199,  200,  205>  216,  342,  443,  448,  471,  476. 
Imprisoned  men,  377  to  424,  475  to  477. 

Jamesville,  452. 

Jillson,  Lieut.  E.  M.,  340,  341, 354,  529. 

Julian's  Creek,  228,  510. 

Kinston,  104, 148,  156,  458,  465, 474, 475. 
Knight,  Hon.  H.  G.,  9,  524. 

Lee,  Gen'l  H.  C.,  7,  9,  15,  34,  71,  100, 117,  118,  154,  159,  210,  227,  262,  272,  291,  368, 

374,  409,  414,  525. 
Letters  from  Gov.  Andrew,  15,  203 ;  Gen'l  Butler,  285,  286;  Gen'l  Heckman,  290; 

Gen'ls  Pickett  and  Lee,  291 ;  Locher,  277 ;  Surg.  Otisr497, 502 ;  Rebel,  299;  Gen'l 

Smith,  288;  Gen'l  Weitzel,  289,  290. 
Lyman,  Gen'l  Luke,  8,  14, 15,  47,  61,  103,  117, 125, 129,  154,  172,  194,  195,  202,  497 

500. 
Lyman,  Capt.  Justus,  424,  425,  480,  492. 

Maps  and  charts :  North  Carolina,  99 ;  Bermuda  Hundreds,  252 ;  Drewry's  Bluff, 

291 ;  Gum  Swamp,  460;  New  Berne,  117;  Washington,  168. 
Mail  steamers  and  mails,  50,  163. 
Martindale,  Gen'l  J.  H.,  292,  293,  303,  330,  336. 
McKay,  Major  Wm.  W.,  338,  480. 
McManus,  Capt.  P.  W.,  17,  169,  171,  180,  425,  487. 
Mine  disaster,  360. 
Mining  our  works,  363. 

Moore,  Major  J.  W.,  17,  40,  51, 169,  266,  273,  292,  315,  338, 341, 367,  369,  435, 478, 483. 
Munn,  Asst.  Surg.  C.  E.,  508,  510. 
Mustered  out,  376,  480. 


606  INDEX. 

Naval  contests,  58,  70,  130,  240,  443,  45o. 

New  Berne,  77,  78,  86,  98,  10G,  127,  440,  454. 

Newport  Barracks,  125,  135,  161,  233. 

Newport  News,  219,  509. 

Nine  months  troops,  134,  20S. 

Ninth  N.  J.  Regt.,  36,  44,  49,87,  117,  136,  146,  147,  143,  152,  211,  218,  230,  253,  254, 

259,  260,  272,  292,  368,  446,  447,  450,  452,  459,  515. 
Nutting,  Col.  J.  H.,  17,  425,  429,  457,  478,  484,  515. 

Officers  in  prison,  408. 

Orders.  General,  52,  53,  116,  212,  218,  359. 

Orders,  Complimentary,  71,  97,  98,  182,  265,  343,  344. 

Otis,  Surg.  Geo.  A  ,  8,  14,  41,  64,  103,  142,  495. 

Palmer,  Gen.  I.  N.,  190,  242,  458. 

Peck,  GcVl  J.  J.,  212,  240. 

Peck,  Capt.  E.  L.,  108,  339,  342,  354,  356,  365,  450,  475,  492,  529. 

Philadelphia,  22,  23,  345,  434,  501. 

Picket  duty,  25,  100,  125,  269,  357,  454. 

Pickett,  Gen'l  J.,  273,  291,  528. 

Plymouth,  127,  129,  140,  143,  161,  186,  235,  446. 

Provost  duty,  204,  219,  445,  530. 

Provost  guard  fired  upon,  119. 

Rainbow  Bluff,  124,  138,  446. 

Ranger,  transport,  42,  43,  45,  46,  47,  53,  55,  71,  78. 

Recognition  of  the  dead,  323. 

Recruits,  124,  229,  457. 

Recruit,  schooner,  50,  53,  72,  78. 

Re-enlistments,  220. 

Reinforcements,  105,  131,  145,  160,  456,  475. 

Reports,  Beauregard'f,  270;  Heckman's,  245;  Pickett's,  273;  Smith's,  297. 

Return  of  Veterans,  222,  367,  480. 

Return  to  North  Carolina,  435. 

Resolution  of  Massachusetts  Legislature,  93. 

Rhall's  Mills,  137,  447. 

Roanoke  Island,  56,  77,  115,  235,  502. 

Robinson,  Congressman  Geo.  D.,  521,  523,  524,  527. 

Sampson,  Capt.  I.  B.,  40,  169,  179,  235,  239,  413. 

Sandford,  Capt.  Chas.  D  ,  17,  40,  120,  141,  187,  188,  194,  204,  253,  283. 

Sandford,  Chaplain  Miles,  9,  39,  97. 

Seventeenth  Mass.  Regt.,  104,  117,  119,  136,  150,  211,  438,  461. 

Sherman,  Gen'l,  at  Millen,  399. 

Shiloh,  133. 

Sieges,  Fort  Macon,  105;  Petersburg,  328  to  367;  Washington,  167  to  185. 

Signal  corps,  516. 

Skinner,  Capt.  J.  L.,  12,  190,  425,  426,  431,  490. 

Smith,  Gen'l  W.  F.,  252,  288,  289,  297,  298,  302,  303,  330,  358. 

Soldier's  life,  479. 


INDEX.  607 

South- West  Creek,  147,  450,  464,  515. 

Spaulding,  Capt.  M.  H.,  17,  25,  49,  51,  59,  77,  80,  100. 

Stanley,  Gov.  Edward,  111,  159,  165. 

Stannard,  Gen'l  Geo  J.,  292,  309,  330,  3iO,  342,  344. 

Steamers,  Escort,  165,  181,  182,  245;  Pilot  Boy,  50,  51,  53,  79;  Union,  42,  51,  59,  79; 

Ellen  S.  Terry,  163;  Dudley  Buck,  163. 

Star  Brigade,  229,  268,  274,  292,  301,  306,  308,  324,  330,  337,  345. 
Struck  by  lightning,  118. 
Swamps  and  marshes,  62,  125,  127,  197. 
Swift,  Capt.  R.  R.,  17,  413,  424,  488. 

Tarboro,  138,  211,  446. 

Tenth  Conn.  Regt.,  24,  25,  36,  44,  60,  63,  83,  87,  117,  136,  146,  148,  151. 

Testimonials,  friendly,  12,  13,  14,  20,  21,  23,  37,  192,  222,  375. 

Torpedo  explosions,  436,  452. 

Trafton,  Capt.  J.  W.,  17,  40,  215,  456,  471. 

Twenty-Third  Mass.  Regt.,  24,  25,  44,  60,  61,63,  83,  87,  92,  100,  107,  117,  119,  146, 

211,  218,  229,  253,  254,  259,  309,  367,  435. 
Twenty-Fifth  Mass.  Regt.,  24,  36,  37,  41,  43,  60,  64,  80,  83,  85,  86,  87,  118,  136,  146, 

151,  156,  187,  188,  193,  195,  197,  200,  204,  218,  219,  230,  253,  254,  259,  268,273,  304, 

309,  337,  367. 
Tyler,  Capt.  W.  H.,  8,  12,  489. 

Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  213. 
Victory,  478,  479. 

Walker,  Major  W.  A.,  17,  129,  186,  291,  300,  306,  312,  322. 

Walthall  Junction,  253,  255. 

Warner,  Capt.  Geo.,  14,  17,  99,  213,  503. 

Washington,  X.  C.,  100,  111,  125,  128,  136,  161,  165,  435,  505,  508. 

Weitzcl,  Gen'l  Godfrey,  252,  274,  276,  289,  290,  455. 

Whelden,  Col.  C.  M.,  10,  530. 

Wilcox,  Capt.  E.  K.,  17,  73,  119,  277,  304,  306,  313,  322. 

Williamston,  137,  139,  447,  452. 

Wise  Forks,  460,  463. 

Wood,  Lieut.  Pliny,  40,  61,  143,  169,  181,  196,  215,  264. 

Woodworth,  Chaplain  C.  L.,  9,  12,  107,  140,  226,  258,  345,  376,  520,  525. 

Wright,  Lieut.  F.  C.,  17,  181,  272,  292,  319. 

Yellow  Fever,  419,  440. 


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